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| Prosecutors drop rape case against former Tory aide | Prosecutors drop rape case against former Tory aide |
| (13 days later) | |
| A former aide to a government minister has been cleared of two charges of rape after prosecutors dropped the case against him. | A former aide to a government minister has been cleared of two charges of rape after prosecutors dropped the case against him. |
| Jon Boulton, 27, who was a speechwriter and media adviser to the former minister for civil society Rob Wilson, had faced two charges of rape against a 25-year-old woman in Wimbledon, south-west London. | Jon Boulton, 27, who was a speechwriter and media adviser to the former minister for civil society Rob Wilson, had faced two charges of rape against a 25-year-old woman in Wimbledon, south-west London. |
| Following a 14-month police investigation and court hearings spanning four months, Paul Douglass, for the Crown Prosecution Service, told Kingston crown court on Friday they were offering no evidence – formally terminating proceedings – following a review of the case. Judge Susan Tapping told Boulton, who lives in Stockwell, south London, that verdicts of not guilty would be recorded against the two counts of rape. | Following a 14-month police investigation and court hearings spanning four months, Paul Douglass, for the Crown Prosecution Service, told Kingston crown court on Friday they were offering no evidence – formally terminating proceedings – following a review of the case. Judge Susan Tapping told Boulton, who lives in Stockwell, south London, that verdicts of not guilty would be recorded against the two counts of rape. |
| Boulton was arrested on 16 April last year and charged on 27 June this year. He was initially charged with six counts of rape and appeared at Wimbledon magistrates court in July. He later appeared at Kingston crown court in August where the charges were reduced to two counts of rape. | Boulton was arrested on 16 April last year and charged on 27 June this year. He was initially charged with six counts of rape and appeared at Wimbledon magistrates court in July. He later appeared at Kingston crown court in August where the charges were reduced to two counts of rape. |
| Boulton said: “I’m pleased that this is over. I’d like to thank my friends and family, and everyone who has stood by me over the last 18 months. I feel completely vindicated and would now like to put the matter behind me.” | Boulton said: “I’m pleased that this is over. I’d like to thank my friends and family, and everyone who has stood by me over the last 18 months. I feel completely vindicated and would now like to put the matter behind me.” |
| The alleged victim, now 27, told the Guardian she would seek a review of the CPS decision. “I believe the system has failed me,” she said. “I wouldn’t wish going through this process on anyone. I am now living with this and this has changed me. | The alleged victim, now 27, told the Guardian she would seek a review of the CPS decision. “I believe the system has failed me,” she said. “I wouldn’t wish going through this process on anyone. I am now living with this and this has changed me. |
| “After the whole process of such a long police investigation, I no longer have faith in the criminal justice system.” | “After the whole process of such a long police investigation, I no longer have faith in the criminal justice system.” |
| On Friday, Douglass told the court: “The crown has a continuing duty to review any case it brings before the court. The crown has discharged this duty anxiously and scrupulously.” | On Friday, Douglass told the court: “The crown has a continuing duty to review any case it brings before the court. The crown has discharged this duty anxiously and scrupulously.” |
| He added: “A decision has been made to offer no evidence on both counts on the indictment.” | He added: “A decision has been made to offer no evidence on both counts on the indictment.” |
| Wilson is no longer a minister after losing his Reading East seat to Labour’s Matt Rodda in the general election in June. | Wilson is no longer a minister after losing his Reading East seat to Labour’s Matt Rodda in the general election in June. |
| Wilson’s website previously said Boulton helped with “research, drafting of questions, speech-writing and national media” – but the references were removed after he was arrested. | Wilson’s website previously said Boulton helped with “research, drafting of questions, speech-writing and national media” – but the references were removed after he was arrested. |
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