CONVICTED TV quiz cheat Charles Ingram has hit out at a judge for criticising his spending habits despite having his court costs slashed.

The former Army major and his wife Diana had their defence costs bill from the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? trial slashed from £65,000 to £30,000 by a judge at Southwark Crown Court.

Mr Ingram, who lives in Easterton, said he was furious at comments made by Judge Geoffrey Rivlin, who criticised the couple for blowing their finances on loan repayments and betting rather than paying off costs.

Judge Rivlin said the couple had "cynically manipulated" their finances. It emerged in court Ingram had put £40,000 from his £68,000 Army pension into his wife's account and blew nearly £5,000 on spread betting.

Mr Ingram said: "The judge punitively and vindictively imposed these defence costs. Judge Rivlin should not have even heard this case."

The couple are seeking a judicial review of the imposition of defence costs and plan to take their appeal to the European Court in Strasbourg.