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Former deputy speaker in court over sex assault charges Former deputy speaker in court over sex assault charges
(about 5 hours later)
Nigel Evans, the former deputy speaker of the House of Commons, will enter formal pleas on Friday over allegations of sexual offences against seven men. Nigel Evans, the former deputy speaker of the House of Commons, will enter formal pleas on Friday over allegations of sexual offences against seven men.
Evans, the MP for Ribble Valley in Lancashire, is to appear at Preston crown court for a plea and case management hearing.Evans, the MP for Ribble Valley in Lancashire, is to appear at Preston crown court for a plea and case management hearing.
The 55-year-old is accused of two counts of indecent assault, five of sexual assault and one of rape. The charges date from 2002 to last year.The 55-year-old is accused of two counts of indecent assault, five of sexual assault and one of rape. The charges date from 2002 to last year.
He has previously emphatically denied all the charges.He has previously emphatically denied all the charges.
A provisional date of 10 March has been set for his trial, which is scheduled to last up to four weeks.A provisional date of 10 March has been set for his trial, which is scheduled to last up to four weeks.
The indecent assaults are alleged to have been committed between 1 January 2002 and 1 January 2004; the sexual assaults - said to be touching without consent - between 1 January 2009 and 1 April last year; and the rape between 29 March and 1 April last year. The indecent assaults are alleged to have been committed between 1 January 2002 and 1 January 2004; the sexual assaults – said to be touching without consent – between 1 January 2009 and 1 April last year; and the rape between 29 March and 1 April last year.
Evans resigned as Commons deputy speaker after he was charged on 10 September.Evans resigned as Commons deputy speaker after he was charged on 10 September.
He made a personal statement in the house the day after he was charged, claiming that facing the allegations was as hard as dealing with the deaths of his mother and brother in the past few years.He made a personal statement in the house the day after he was charged, claiming that facing the allegations was as hard as dealing with the deaths of his mother and brother in the past few years.
The Swansea-born MP, who lives in Pendleton, Lancashire, was one of three deputy speakers elected in a secret ballot of MPs in 2010. Later that year he came out as gay, saying he was "tired of living a lie".The Swansea-born MP, who lives in Pendleton, Lancashire, was one of three deputy speakers elected in a secret ballot of MPs in 2010. Later that year he came out as gay, saying he was "tired of living a lie".
Evans was vice-chairman of the Conservative party from 1999 to 2001.Evans was vice-chairman of the Conservative party from 1999 to 2001.
As deputy speaker, he sat as an independent MP.As deputy speaker, he sat as an independent MP.
He is on bail on condition that he does not contact any of his alleged victims.He is on bail on condition that he does not contact any of his alleged victims.