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MP Nigel Evans trial: Grope claim 'out of character' Nigel Evans trial: MP 'groped' man in Commons bar
(about 5 hours 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. MP Nigel Evans groped a man while he was drinking in a House of Commons bar, a jury heard.
The party's vice-chairman, Michael Fabricant, told Preston Crown Court he first heard the claims in 2009. The complainant told Preston Crown Court Mr Evans "grabbed his genitals" while he drank with a group including MPs and another alleged victim.
Earlier, a Tory MP said he thought it "out of character" when he heard the allegations against Mr Evans.
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 deputy speaker allegedly groped the complainant in the Strangers Bar around May 2010.
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. "We were chatting and Nigel reached out and grabbed my genitals, basically," the man told the court.
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. "I brushed it (his hand) away and said 'No, that's not cool'."
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." 'Playing to the gallery'
'Whips' advice' Former Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik told the court of a "not very savoury" exchange with the complainant after he had bought a round of drinks.
Mark Heywood QC, prosecuting, asked Mr Fabricant: "What was being sought?" Mr Opik said: "The gentleman in question... said something quite offensive because I had forgotten to get him a drink.
The MP for Lichfield replied: "Mainly action of some sort and some advice." "I'm not a confrontational person. I did get him a drink, gave him his drink, stood around and rejoined my group."
He said he called the opposition whips office at the House of Commons and spoke to John Randall MP, a deputy whip. Mr Opik added: "He was playing to the gallery."
The jury was told Mr Fabricant could not remember a telephone conversation with the complainant, although records suggested a call took place. Michael Fabricant, the Conservative Party vice-chairman, told the court he had first heard in 2009 claims that his "good friend" Mr Evans groped a young man while he slept on the sofa at the MP's home in Pendleton, Lancashire.
The MP said part of the whips' job was the "pastoral care" of MPs. Mr Fabricant, a senior Conservative whip in 2009, said the Westminster worker spoke to Plaid Cymru MP Adam Price, who then called him.
"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. Mr Fabricant 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."
'Stop drinking' 'Drinking warning'
The jury learned that the complainant also spoke to Iain Corby, managing director of Policy Research Unit, a Conservative research group. The jury heard 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. Mr Corby said the complainant did not give "explicit detail", claiming Mr Evans "tried to get under the covers" with him as he slept.
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. He said he may have taken a "different view" had he been told 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."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. The allegation was discussed in a meeting with Patrick McLoughlin, chief whip at the time, the witness said.
"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 said he gained the impression the complainant was "happy" once assured Evans would be asked to apologise and warned about his drinking.
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''Out of the closet'
Mr Corby said Mr Evans had been "extremely careful" with his drinking since he was appointed Deputy Speaker in 2010. The jury heard that Patrick McLoughlin, who is now Transport Secretary, told the complainant it was a "big ask" for Mr Evans to resign over a "drunken pass".
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 McLoughlin, MP for Derbyshire Dales, said: "I thought that was a huge demand given the nature of the complaint."
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. The MP said Mr Evans' sexuality was an "open secret" in Westminster but he had not come out publicly.
"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. He said he believed Mr Evans' "repressed sexuality" may have contributed to the incident.
"What I did think is that Nigel would be a lot happier coming out of the closet."
The trial continues.The trial continues.