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| Nigel Evans MP: Court told he abused young men in Parliament | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The former deputy speaker of the House of Commons sexually assaulted young men in Parliament and at the Conservative Party conference, a court has heard. | |
| MP Nigel Evans, 56, used his "powerful" influence to abuse the men and made a "drunken pass" at one, Preston Crown Court was told. | |
| The former Tory MP denies one count of rape, two of indecent assault and six of sexual assault from 2002 to 2013. | |
| Mr Evans resigned as deputy speaker in September after he was charged. | |
| 'Often in drink' | 'Often in drink' |
| The jury was told the independent Ribble Valley MP had the "ability to make or break" the careers of those who wished to work in Westminster. | |
| Mr Evans was "often in drink" when he was "using or trading his position of influence" to attack young men, the prosecution claims. | Mr Evans was "often in drink" when he was "using or trading his position of influence" to attack young men, the prosecution claims. |
| The jury of seven men and five women heard his behaviour was "repeated over time, despite warnings of respected colleagues". | The jury of seven men and five women heard his behaviour was "repeated over time, despite warnings of respected colleagues". |
| Prosecutor Mark Heywood QC said: "It has also escalated in seriousness, no doubt because he believed that his position made it less than likely that someone would complain. | |
| "The prosecution alleges that he, on separate occasions over many years, has sexually assaulted young men, both in public situations and in private. | |
| "By the last of the these, in early 2013, he raped one of the young men," he said. | |
| An alleged assault took place at the Conservative Party conference in Blackpool, Lancashire, in 2003 at a bar called Number 10, inside the Imperial Hotel. | |
| 'Abused his position' | |
| The MP was drinking with a friend at some time between midnight and 3am and was described as being "plastered", the court was told. | |
| Mr Heywood said: "So the prosecution allege, he not only abused those young men, in some cases seriously, but he abused the positions he held." | |
| The indecent assaults are alleged to have been committed between 1 January 2002 and 1 January 2004. | The indecent assaults are alleged to have been committed between 1 January 2002 and 1 January 2004. |
| The sexual assaults are alleged to have taken place between 1 January 2009 and 1 April last year, and the rape between 29 March and 1 April last year. | The sexual assaults are alleged to have taken place between 1 January 2009 and 1 April last year, and the rape between 29 March and 1 April last year. |
| Mr Evans, who was born in Swansea and lives in Pendleton, Lancashire, was a Conservative MP before becoming deputy speaker in June 2010, a politically neutral role. | Mr Evans, who was born in Swansea and lives in Pendleton, Lancashire, was a Conservative MP before becoming deputy speaker in June 2010, a politically neutral role. |
| He has not returned to the Conservatives in the Commons and is representing his constituents as an independent. | He has not returned to the Conservatives in the Commons and is representing his constituents as an independent. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |