Jonathan Aitken becomes prison chaplain

Jonathan Aitken was ordained at St Paul's Cathedral

Former cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken, who was jailed for 18 months in 1999, has become a prison chaplain.

He was among 32 deacons to be ordained at St Paul's Cathedral.

The ex-Tory MP, who spent seven months in prison for perjury and perverting the course of justice, will be based at St Matthew's Church Westminster.

Mr Aitken, who found his faith while serving his prison sentence, has become the Rev Jonathan Aitken and will work as an unpaid prison chaplain.

Old Bailey celebration

The ordination ceremony was the first to be conducted by a female bishop of London - the Rt Rev Sarah Mullally.

A celebration after the service was due to take place at the Old Bailey, where he was handed his prison sentence 19 years ago.

He admitted to perjury and perverting the course of justice, following the collapse of his libel case against the Guardian and World in Action.

While in prison he became part of a prayer group which included murderers and an armed robber, he told the Times.

After being released he took a degree in theology at the University of Oxford.

A statement from the diocese of London, in the Telegraph, said: "Jonathan Aitken, like his fellow candidates, has been through the process of discernment.

"Once ordained, his specific focus will be on prison ministry."