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| MP Nigel Evans trial: Grope claim 'out of character' | MP Nigel Evans trial: Grope claim 'out of character' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A leading Conservative MP said he thought it "out of character" when he heard allegations that MP Nigel Evans had sexually assaulted a young man. | A leading Conservative MP said he thought it "out of character" when he heard allegations that MP Nigel Evans had sexually assaulted a young man. |
| The party's vice-chairman, Michael Fabricant, told Preston Crown Court he first heard the claims in 2009. | The party's vice-chairman, Michael Fabricant, told Preston Crown Court he first heard the claims in 2009. |
| Mr Evans, 56, denies one count of rape, two counts of indecent assault and six counts of sexual assault. | Mr Evans, 56, denies one count of rape, two counts of indecent assault and six counts of sexual assault. |
| The former Commons deputy speaker is alleged to have groped a young man, who was sleeping on the sofa at his home. | The former Commons deputy speaker is alleged to have groped a young man, who was sleeping on the sofa at his home. |
| Mr Fabricant, who was a senior Conservative whip in 2009, said he was working on the Norwich North by-election when he first heard of the allegation against his "good friend" that had been made by a bi-sexual Westminster worker. | |
| He told the court that Adam Price, a Plaid Cymru MP at the time, had spoken to the complainant and called Mr Fabricant to tell him about the allegation. | He told the court that Adam Price, a Plaid Cymru MP at the time, had spoken to the complainant and called Mr Fabricant to tell him about the allegation. |
| Mr Fabricant, who was first elected in the 1992 General Election - at the same times as Mr Evans, told the jury: "I remember fairly well what he said, mainly because it seemed to me out of character for the Nigel Evans I knew. That's why I remember that conversation." | Mr Fabricant, who was first elected in the 1992 General Election - at the same times as Mr Evans, told the jury: "I remember fairly well what he said, mainly because it seemed to me out of character for the Nigel Evans I knew. That's why I remember that conversation." |
| 'Whips' advice' | |
| Mark Heywood QC, prosecuting, asked Mr Fabricant: "What was being sought?" | Mark Heywood QC, prosecuting, asked Mr Fabricant: "What was being sought?" |
| The MP for Lichfield replied: "Mainly action of some sort and some advice." | The MP for Lichfield replied: "Mainly action of some sort and some advice." |
| He said he called the opposition whips office at the House of Commons and spoke to John Randall MP, a deputy whip. | He said he called the opposition whips office at the House of Commons and spoke to John Randall MP, a deputy whip. |
| The jury was told Mr Fabricant could not remember a telephone conversation with the complainant, although records suggested a call took place. | |
| The MP said part of the whips' job was the "pastoral care" of MPs. | The MP said part of the whips' job was the "pastoral care" of MPs. |
| "I believe that's one of the more important roles of the whips and intelligence gathering. It's not like House of Cards, if you have seen that programme," he said. | "I believe that's one of the more important roles of the whips and intelligence gathering. It's not like House of Cards, if you have seen that programme," he said. |
| 'Stop drinking' | |
| The jury learned that the complainant also spoke to Iain Corby, managing director of Policy Research Unit, a Conservative research group. | |
| He said the complainant did not go into "explicit detail", saying only that Mr Evans had "tried to get under the covers" with him as he slept on the settee in the MPs home in Pendleton, Lancashire. | |
| He said he may have taken a "different view" if he had been told that Mr Evans had placed a hand inside the man's underwear. | |
| Mr Corby added: "I hope I would have persuaded him that it should be taken to the police." | |
| The allegation was discussed in a meeting with Patrick McLoughlin, chief whip at the time, the witness claimed. | |
| "I think the question was 'do you really want Nigel's career to end because of this' and I think very quickly [the alleged victim] backtracked from that," he said. | |
| Mr Corby gained the impression the complainant was "happy" once he was assured Evans would be asked to apologise and warned about his drinking. | |
| 'Out of the closet' | |
| Mr Corby said Mr Evans had been "extremely careful" with his drinking since he was appointed Deputy Speaker in 2010. | |
| He told Peter Wright, defending, that he had seen the complainant and Evans socialising with each other following the alleged incident and there appeared to be "no friction" between the two. | |
| Mr Corby, who was instrumental in setting up the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Society at Westminster in November 2010, said Mr Evans offered to serve as one of its vice-chairmen. | |
| "When Nigel heard we were setting it up he determined it was a good time to come out and let people know he was gay," he said. | |
| "What I did think is that Nigel would be a lot happier coming out of the closet." | |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |