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Nigel Evans trial: MP 'put hand down victim's trousers' | Nigel Evans trial: MP 'put hand down victim's trousers' |
(35 minutes later) | |
MP Nigel Evans put his hand down a man's trousers during a night out in London's Soho, a court has heard. | MP Nigel Evans put his hand down a man's trousers during a night out in London's Soho, a court has heard. |
The former deputy speaker of the House of Commons had a "reputation", Preston Crown Court was told. | The former deputy speaker of the House of Commons had a "reputation", Preston Crown Court was told. |
The man said he dismissed the "drunken" incident and did not consider himself a victim, but agreed to make a statement when contacted by police last year. | The man said he dismissed the "drunken" incident and did not consider himself a victim, but agreed to make a statement when contacted by police last year. |
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 incidents involving seven men, between 2002 and 2013. | The charges relate to incidents involving seven men, between 2002 and 2013. |
The alleged victim, who is openly gay, told the court that at first he thought Mr Evans was being tactile during the night out in 2002, but it was "not a sort of comedy squeeze". | |
He said at the time it was an "open secret" in Westminster that the politician was gay. | He said at the time it was an "open secret" in Westminster that the politician was gay. |
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 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 then 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' |
Under cross examination from Peter Wright QC, defending, he told the jury he considered the matter at the time "as like a big joke". | Under cross examination from Peter Wright QC, defending, he told the jury he considered the matter at the time "as like 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." |
"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. |
The court also heard from another man who was allegedly indecently assaulted at the Conservative Party conference in Blackpool, Lancashire in 2003. | |
The man, a parliamentary worker at the time, said the thought of complaining to the police when the alleged assault happened had never occurred to him. | |
Last year when questioned by detectives he said he did not wish to make a complaint and only gave a statement as a witness so that his account was "on the record". | Last year when questioned by detectives he said he did not wish to make a complaint and only gave a statement as a witness so that his account was "on the record". |
"To be honest I didn't think they were any grounds to be charged," he said. | "To be honest I didn't think they were any grounds to be charged," he said. |
"I would not have believed that six months on I would be standing in a witness box." | "I would not have believed that six months on I would be standing in a witness box." |
'Batted hand away' | 'Batted hand away' |
The events were said to have taken place in the Number 10 conference bar at the Imperial Hotel in Blackpool in October 2003. | The events were said to have taken place in the Number 10 conference bar at the Imperial Hotel in Blackpool in October 2003. |
The witness told the court: "Mr Evans basically starting putting his hand on the top of my belt, on my waist line. | |
"After a couple of seconds I realised he was actually putting his hand across and putting his fingers down." | "After a couple of seconds I realised he was actually putting his hand across and putting his fingers down." |
He said he was "very conscious" a journalist was nearby and quietly "batted" Evans's hand away. | He said he was "very conscious" a journalist was nearby and quietly "batted" Evans's hand away. |
The witness recalled speaking to a member of the Conservative Party Board about the incident who went over and moved Evans to a different group in the bar. | The witness recalled speaking to a member of the Conservative Party Board about the incident who went over and moved Evans to a different group in the bar. |
But within five minutes a "carbon copy" of the incident took place as Evans came over and "did the exact same thing again", he said. | But within five minutes a "carbon copy" of the incident took place as Evans came over and "did the exact same thing again", he said. |
He brought the matter to the attention of a prospective parliamentary candidate, now a MP, and a MEP, who led Evans to his room. | |
When he gave a statement to police, he said he considered that Evans's problem was with alcohol rather than with a "sexually aggressive personality". | |
He told the court: "At no point when looking back at it now did I see any malice or any sexual intent. It was an alcohol problem, as far as I see it." | He told the court: "At no point when looking back at it now did I see any malice or any sexual intent. It was an alcohol problem, as far as I see it." |
He said he had not seen it as a police matter. | He said he had not seen it as a police matter. |
A month later when Michael Howard replaced Iain Duncan Smith as party leader, Mr Evans was removed as shadow secretary of state for Wales, the jury was told. | A month later when Michael Howard replaced Iain Duncan Smith as party leader, Mr Evans was removed as shadow secretary of state for Wales, the jury was told. |
In the summer of 2009, Mr Evans tried to kiss another man he had met while drinking with others at the Strangers' Bar in the Houses of Parliament, jurors heard. | |
The man, then aged 21 or 22, told the court the MP called him over to a corridor area and pulled a curtain around him but he said "no" when Mr Evans tried to kiss him. | |
The court heard that when they returned to the group the witness told his friend who replied: "That's what Nigel can be like." | |
The man told police he did not believe Mr Evans had committed any offences. | |
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. |