Chris Huhne apologised to friends and family for his conduct as he faced up to a jail term.

In an interview conducted hours before he was handed an eight-month prison sentence, the former Cabinet Minister told The Guardian he felt "awful" for having dragged people through the ordeal.

He said: "I am sorry. I want to say that to family, to friends, to constituents and to colleagues, and more broadly to everybody who cares passionately about the causes I care about, including saving the planet for our children and our grandchildren."

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Huhne insisted he was not a bully after his ex-wife, Vicky Pryce, argued she had been coerced into taking his speeding points.

And, asked why he had done it, he added: "It is just too easy to rationalise, at the beginning. You think this is just a ridiculously small misjudgment to destroy your career, and you just hope that something will turn up to stop the consequences, and it does not."

In another interview with Channel 4 News, Huhne admitted he had inflicted "a lot of hurt on my family and my ex-wife".

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• BRITAIN-POLITICS-TRANSPORT-CRIME

  Former British energy minister Chris Huhne (2nd L) and his partner Carina Trimingham (L) arrive at Southwark Crown Court in London, on March 11, 2013. Huhne and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce are due to be sentenced later Monday for perverting the course of justice over speeding points a decade ago. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images)

• Chris Huhne And His Former Wife Vicky Pryce Are Sentenced For Perverting The Course Of Justice Over Speeding Points

  LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Former Liberal Democrat Cabinet minister Chris Huhne (C) arrives at Southwark Crown Court to be sentenced on March 11, 2013 in London, England. Mr Huhne has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice over claims his ex-wife took speeding points for him in 2003. Vicky Pryce, Mr Huhne's ex-wife, was found guilty of the same offence after the judge issued a retrial. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

• Chris Huhne And His Former Wife Vicky Pryce Are Sentenced For Perverting The Course Of Justice Over Speeding Points

  LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Former Liberal Democrat Cabinet minister Chris Huhne (C) arrives at Southwark Crown Court to be sentenced on March 11, 2013 in London, England. Mr Huhne has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice over claims his ex-wife took speeding points for him in 2003. Vicky Pryce, Mr Huhne's ex-wife, had also been found guilty of the same offence after the judge issued a retrial. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

• BRITAIN-POLITICS-TRANSPORT-CRIME

  Former British energy minister Chris Huhne (C) and his partner Carina Trimingham (L) arrive at Southwark Crown Court in London, on March 11, 2013. Huhne and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce are due to be sentenced later Monday for perverting the course of justice over speeding points a decade ago. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images)

• Chris Huhne And His Former Wife Vicky Pryce Are Sentenced For Perverting The Course Of Justice Over Speeding Points

  LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Former Liberal Democrat Cabinet minister Chris Huhne (C) arrives at Southwark Crown Court to be sentenced on March 11, 2013 in London, England. Mr Huhne has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice over claims his ex-wife took speeding points for him in 2003. Vicky Pryce, Mr Huhne's ex-wife, was found guilty of the same offence after the judge issued a retrial. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

• BRITAIN-POLITICS-TRANSPORT-CRIME

  Former British energy minister Chris Huhne (C) arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London, on March 11, 2013. Huhne and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce are due to be sentenced later Monday for perverting the course of justice over speeding points a decade ago. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images)

• Chris Huhne And His Former Wife Vicky Pryce Are Sentenced For Perverting The Course Of Justice Over Speeding Points

  LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Former Liberal Democrat Cabinet minister Chris Huhne (C) arrives at Southwark Crown Court to be sentenced on March 11, 2013 in London, England. Mr Huhne has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice over claims his ex-wife took speeding points for him in 2003. Vicky Pryce, Mr Huhne's ex-wife, had also been found guilty of the same offence after the judge issued a retrial. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

• Vicky Pryce trial

  Chris Huhne arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London, where he will be sentenced for perverting the course of justice.

• Vicky Pryce trial

  Chris Huhne arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London, where he will be sentenced for perverting the course of justice.

• Vicky Pryce trial

  Chris Huhne arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London, where he will be sentenced for perverting the course of justice.

• Vicky Pryce trial

  Chris Huhne arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London, where he will be sentenced for perverting the course of justice.

• Vicky Pryce trial

  Chris Huhne arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London, where he will be sentenced for perverting the course of justice.

• Vicky Pryce trial

  Chris Huhne arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London, where he will be sentenced for perverting the course of justice.

• Vicky Pryce trial

  Chris Huhne arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London, where he will be sentenced for perverting the course of justice.

• Vicky Pryce trial

  Chris Huhne arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London, where he will be sentenced for perverting the course of justice.

• Chris Huhne And His Former Wife Vicky Pryce Are Sentenced For Perverting The Course Of Justice Over Speeding Points

  LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Vicky Pryce, ex-wife of Chris Huhne, arrives at Southwark Crown Court to be sentenced on March 11, 2013 in London, England. Former Cabinet member Chris Huhne has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice over claims his ex-wife took speeding points for him in 2003. Ms Pryce, 60, was found guilty of the same offence after the judge issued a retrial. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

• Vicky Pryce trial

  Chris Huhne arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London, where he will be sentenced for perverting the course of justice.

• Chris Huhne And His Former Wife Vicky Pryce Are Sentenced For Perverting The Course Of Justice Over Speeding Points

  LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Vicky Pryce, ex-wife of Chris Huhne, arrives at Southwark Crown Court to be sentenced on March 11, 2013 in London, England. Former Cabinet member Chris Huhne has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice over claims his ex-wife took speeding points for him in 2003. Ms Pryce, 60, was found guilty of the same offence after the judge issued a retrial. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

• Chris Huhne And His Former Wife Vicky Pryce Are Sentenced For Perverting The Course Of Justice Over Speeding Points

  LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Vicky Pryce, ex-wife of Chris Huhne, arrives at Southwark Crown Court to be sentenced on March 11, 2013 in London, England. Former Cabinet member Chris Huhne has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice over claims his ex-wife took speeding points for him in 2003. Ms Pryce, 60, was found guilty of the same offence after the judge issued a retrial. (Photo by Rosie Hallam/Getty Images)

• Chris Huhne And His Former Wife Vicky Pryce Are Sentenced For Perverting The Course Of Justice Over Speeding Points

  LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Vicky Pryce, ex-wife of Chris Huhne, arrives at Southwark Crown Court to be sentenced on March 11, 2013 in London, England. Former Cabinet member Chris Huhne has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice over claims his ex-wife took speeding points for him in 2003. Ms Pryce, 60, was found guilty of the same offence after the judge issued a retrial. (Photo by Rosie Hallam/Getty Images)

• Chris Huhne And His Former Wife Vicky Pryce Are Sentenced For Perverting The Course Of Justice Over Speeding Points

  LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Former Liberal Democrat cabinet minister Chris Huhne arrives at Southwark Crown Court to be sentenced on March 11, 2013 in London, England. Former Cabinet member Chris Huhne has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice over claims his ex-wife took speeding points for him in 2003. Ms Pryce, 60, was found guilty of the same offence after the judge issued a retrial. (Photo by Rosie Hallam/Getty Images)

• BRITAIN-POLITICS-TRANSPORT-CRIME

  Vicky Pryce, (C) ex-wife of former British energy minister Chris Huhne arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London, on March 11, 2013. Huhne and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce are due to be sentenced later Monday for perverting the course of justice over speeding points a decade ago. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images)

• Chris Huhne And His Former Wife Vicky Pryce Are Sentenced For Perverting The Course Of Justice Over Speeding Points

  LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Vicky Pryce (C), ex-wife of Chris Huhne, arrives at Southwark Crown Court to be sentenced on March 11, 2013 in London, England. Former Cabinet member Chris Huhne has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice over claims his ex-wife took speeding points for him in 2003. Ms Pryce, 60, had been found guilty of the same offence after the judge issued a retrial. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

• Chris Huhne And His Former Wife Vicky Pryce Are Sentenced For Perverting The Course Of Justice Over Speeding Points

  LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Vicky Pryce, ex-wife of Chris Huhne, arrives at Southwark Crown Court to be sentenced on March 11, 2013 in London, England. Former Cabinet member Chris Huhne has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice over claims his ex-wife took speeding points for him in 2003. Ms Pryce, 60, was found guilty of the same offence after the judge issued a retrial. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

• BRITAIN-POLITICS-TRANSPORT-CRIME

  Vicky Pryce, (C) ex-wife of former British energy minister Chris Huhne arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London, on March 11, 2013. Huhne and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce are due to be sentenced later Monday for perverting the course of justice over speeding points a decade ago. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images)

• Chris Huhne And His Former Wife Vicky Pryce Are Sentenced For Perverting The Course Of Justice Over Speeding Points

  LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Vicky Pryce, ex-wife of Chris Huhne, arrives at Southwark Crown Court to be sentenced on March 11, 2013 in London, England. Former Cabinet member Chris Huhne has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice over claims his ex-wife took speeding points for him in 2003. Ms Pryce, 60, was found guilty of the same offence after the judge issued a retrial. (Photo by Rosie Hallam/Getty Images)

• BRITAIN-POLITICS-TRANSPORT-CRIME

  Photographers jostle for pictures as Vicky Pryce, (L) ex-wife of former British energy minister Chris Huhne, arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London, on March 11, 2013. Huhne and Vicky Pryce are due to be sentenced later Monday for perverting the course of justice over speeding points a decade ago. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images)