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Nigel Evans trial: MP 'put hand down victim's trousers' Nigel Evans trial: MP 'put hand down victim's trousers'
(about 2 hours later)
A man who alleges he was sexually abused by MP Nigel Evans has told a court the politician put his hand down his trousers twice during a night out in Soho.A man who alleges he was sexually abused by MP Nigel Evans has told a court the politician put his hand down his trousers twice during a night out in Soho.
The former deputy speaker of the House of Commons had a "reputation", Preston Crown Court heard.The former deputy speaker of the House of Commons had a "reputation", Preston Crown Court heard.
The man said he dismissed the incident as "just Nigel being drunken Nigel".The man said he dismissed the incident as "just Nigel being drunken Nigel".
Mr Evans, 56, denies one count of rape, two counts of indecent assault and six of sexual assault.Mr Evans, 56, denies one count of rape, two counts of indecent assault and six of sexual assault.
The charges relate to seven men between 2002 and 2013. The charges relate to incidents involving seven men, between 2002 and 2013.
The alleged victim told the court that at first he thought Mr Evans was being tactile, but it was "not a sort of comedy squeeze". The alleged victim told the court and that at first he thought Mr Evans was being tactile, during the night out in Soho in 2002, but it was "not a sort of comedy squeeze".
The openly gay man said at the time it was an "open secret" in Westminster that the politician was gay.The openly gay man said at the time it was an "open secret" in Westminster that the politician was gay.
'Punch him''Punch him'
He told the jury that while out with friends in 2002, Mr Evans, then the shadow secretary of state for Wales, indecently assaulted him by putting his hand down his trousers at a pub called the Sanctuary on Greek Street in Soho. He told the jury they were out with friends when Mr Evans, then the shadow secretary of state for Wales, indecently assaulted him by putting his hand down his trousers at a pub called the Sanctuary on Greek Street in Soho.
"He had definitely been drinking, he was acting very drunk and I do remember he seemed to sober up quite quickly," he said."He had definitely been drinking, he was acting very drunk and I do remember he seemed to sober up quite quickly," he said.
Mark Heywood QC, prosecuting, asked the man when he became first aware of something untoward.Mark Heywood QC, prosecuting, asked the man when he became first aware of something untoward.
He said: "That some fingers had gone down my trousers. He had a reputation.He said: "That some fingers had gone down my trousers. He had a reputation.
"I walked away rather than make a scene. I did not want him to think I was interested.""I walked away rather than make a scene. I did not want him to think I was interested."
He told the court: "I was annoyed by it.He told the court: "I was annoyed by it.
"I thought if I don't walk away I'm going to hit him.""I thought if I don't walk away I'm going to hit him."
The man said the MP for Ribble Valley in Lancashire then put his hand down his trousers again, prompting the witness, then aged 27, to tell a friend: "I'm going to punch him." The man said the MP for Ribble Valley in Lancashire put his hand down his trousers again, prompting the witness, then aged 27, to tell a friend: "I'm going to punch him."
He told the court: "She said, 'You can't do that - the shadow secretary of state for Wales'."He told the court: "She said, 'You can't do that - the shadow secretary of state for Wales'."
The witness said at the time the politician "was my friend, and I certainly forgave him for it because he was drunk."The witness said at the time the politician "was my friend, and I certainly forgave him for it because he was drunk."
"I have almost forgotten it," he said."I have almost forgotten it," he said.
He confirmed he had socialised with Mr Evans since but had never discussed the matter.He confirmed he had socialised with Mr Evans since but had never discussed the matter.
'A big joke''A big joke'
"When I heard he had been arrested I could not believe it," he said. "I saw him in a corridor and he looked really dreadful. "When I heard he had been arrested I could not believe it," he said. "I saw him in a corridor and he looked really dreadful."
"I sent him an email asking if he wanted to come for a drink and 'stay strong'."
Under cross examination from Peter Wright QC, he told the jury he considered the matter at the time "as like a big joke".Under cross examination from Peter Wright QC, he told the jury he considered the matter at the time "as like a big joke".
"Not in a million years," did he consider it would have resulted in him appearing in court, he said."Not in a million years," did he consider it would have resulted in him appearing in court, he said.
He said he did not see himself as a victim of crime and gave a statement to the police after they contacted him last July.He said he did not see himself as a victim of crime and gave a statement to the police after they contacted him last July.
In the statement he said he saw the incident in the bar as "drunken over-familiarity, rather than being of a sexual nature".In the statement he said he saw the incident in the bar as "drunken over-familiarity, rather than being of a sexual nature".
He told police: "It was almost like a drunken 14-year-old at a disco who could not chat you up with words."He told police: "It was almost like a drunken 14-year-old at a disco who could not chat you up with words."
'No guile'
The witness confirmed that Mr Evans had not made sexual overtures to him before or since "but he overstepped the mark on one night."The witness confirmed that Mr Evans had not made sexual overtures to him before or since "but he overstepped the mark on one night."
A female friend of the alleged victim told the jury she witnessed the incident.
Mr Wright, defending, read her police statement which said: "It appeared to me like a cack-handed way of making a pass.
"The sort of thing that sometimes happens in a pub."
The woman told the court the MP was "very drunk".
Mr Wright added: "There was no guile...nothing furtive. In full view, a drunk man in a public place. And the individual concerned brushed it off?"
"He did," the woman replied.
Mr Evans resigned as deputy speaker after he was charged in September.Mr Evans resigned as deputy speaker after he was charged in September.
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.