Gas-plants scandal staffer out of jail

Dalton McGuinty’s one-time chief of staff has served his jail time for his involvement in the deletion of computer hard drives in the Liberal gas-plants scandal, the Star has learned.

David Livingston, who was given four months behind bars, entered the Toronto South Detention Centre last fall after scrapping the appeal of his conviction, four sources said Tuesday.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly.

Livingston was released from jail before Christmas after serving a reduced sentence.

“I can confirm only that I had a wonderful ‘afternoon tea’ with David recently and he is in a great space,” said former Liberal finance minister Greg Sorbara.

Livingston concluded that pursuing the appeal would be expensive with “limited” odds of success, even though he felt the conviction and sentence were unfair, another friend told the Star on condition of anonymity.

“It was going to cost him another serious chunk of money,” the friend added. “He took soundings with a fair number of people…he very quietly went in, served his time and got it behind him.”

As the Star first reported Monday, Livingston, 65, applied to the Court of Appeal in September to abandon the challenge of his January 2018 conviction for unauthorized use of a computer system.

The appeal was launched last April 11, the day Livingston was led out of an Old City Hall courtroom in handcuffs following his sentencing by Justice Timothy Lipson, spending the afternoon in basement cells before being released on his own recognizance.

Livingston did not reply to an emailed request for comment Tuesday.