Former Bermuda resident and British Tory MP Rupert Allason has been accused of hiding his assets to avoid paying damages to the publisher Random House in a hearing that could see him jailed for contempt of court.

The Independent newspaper in Britain claimed the ex-Tucker's Town part-time resident was ordered to pay the publisher ?200,000 last year after falsely claiming to have ghosted a book by the "fifth man" in the Cambridge University communist spy-ring, John Cairncross.

But attempts to establish his true assets have failed, according to Random House, which is applying to the High Court to send him to prison unless he provide full disclosure.

The flamboyant MP, who founded the British/Bermuda Parliamentary Group some years ago, made his career as the espionage writer Nigel West.

But he was described during last year's court hearing as "one of the most dishonest witnesses" the judge, Mr. Justice Laddie, had seen.

He claimed to have ghosted "The Enigma Spy" for Mr. Cairncross and said he owned half the copyright after the spy died.

Stephan Bate, for Random House, said last week: "There has been an attempt on Mr. Allason's part to box and cox with his asset position to suggest he does not have the means to pay."

After his failure to fully disclose his assets, a further High Court order was made by Mr. Justice Lloyd, but this, too, was stymied, according to Mr. Bate, The Independent wrote.

It was, he said, "a deliberate and sustained campaign of non-compliance".

Random House's application also includes a request that his assets worldwide be frozen.

Mr. Allason was reported as saying in the British broadsheet newspaper: "What we have heard is inference and innuendo together with putting the worst possible interpretation on a series of events. There are explanations for everything that has been described."

And the Financial Times reported that the High Court had also ruled that the press should be allowed to report details of the personal financial affairs of Mr. Allason.

However, a temporary gag order has been placed on the contents of any documents until Mr. Allason has pursued an appeal.

The case continues.