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Nigel Evans says Tories could have ended his career over sex assault claim Nigel Evans says Tories could have ended his career over sex assault claim
(8 days later)
The former deputy Commons speaker Nigel Evans has admitted the Conservative party "could have ended my career there and then" when a parliamentary worker alleged he had been sexually assaulted by the MP in 2009.The former deputy Commons speaker Nigel Evans has admitted the Conservative party "could have ended my career there and then" when a parliamentary worker alleged he had been sexually assaulted by the MP in 2009.
Evans told jurors on Monday that he faced no sanctions despite admitting to the then Tory chief whip Patrick McLoughlin that he made an unwanted pass at the young man following a night of heavy drinking.Evans told jurors on Monday that he faced no sanctions despite admitting to the then Tory chief whip Patrick McLoughlin that he made an unwanted pass at the young man following a night of heavy drinking.
Giving evidence for a second day at Preston crown court, the 56-year-old MP described how he fell for the young man and felt like a "chastened child" when he rebuffed his advances, admitting: "There's no fool like an old fool."Giving evidence for a second day at Preston crown court, the 56-year-old MP described how he fell for the young man and felt like a "chastened child" when he rebuffed his advances, admitting: "There's no fool like an old fool."
Evans told jurors that he grew close to the "flirtatious" young man and even confided in him about his struggles with his own sexuality. The pair would hold hands and chat on the Commons terrace, Evans said, claiming that the young man had told him: "We have a very special relationship."Evans told jurors that he grew close to the "flirtatious" young man and even confided in him about his struggles with his own sexuality. The pair would hold hands and chat on the Commons terrace, Evans said, claiming that the young man had told him: "We have a very special relationship."
"He was incredibly flirtatious – I thought he was interested in me," Evans said when asked about his feelings for the man at the time."He was incredibly flirtatious – I thought he was interested in me," Evans said when asked about his feelings for the man at the time.
Evans told jurors how he decided to made a pass at the man when they were on his sofa at his constituency home in Pendleton, Lancashire, in July 2009. Evans told jurors how he decided to make a pass at the man when they were on his sofa at his constituency home in Pendleton, Lancashire, in July 2009.
"[There was a] buildup of things over a period of years where we had been incredibly friendly, where I thought there was an opportunity to take it a stage further, and I made a pass," he said."[There was a] buildup of things over a period of years where we had been incredibly friendly, where I thought there was an opportunity to take it a stage further, and I made a pass," he said.
The young man moved the MP's hand to one side after one approach, the court heard, but then "exploded" when Evans again put his hands down the man's torso.The young man moved the MP's hand to one side after one approach, the court heard, but then "exploded" when Evans again put his hands down the man's torso.
The MP for Ribble Valley in Lancashire said he felt "like a chastened child" when the complainant reacted furiously to his sexual advances, standing up and pushing Evans across the room.The MP for Ribble Valley in Lancashire said he felt "like a chastened child" when the complainant reacted furiously to his sexual advances, standing up and pushing Evans across the room.
Asked by his barrister Peter Wright QC how he felt when he learned that the man had complained to senior Conservatives, Evans said: "I was very let down because I thought the relationship between he and I was of such a strength he would've recognised it was a pass and it would've just been one of those things."Asked by his barrister Peter Wright QC how he felt when he learned that the man had complained to senior Conservatives, Evans said: "I was very let down because I thought the relationship between he and I was of such a strength he would've recognised it was a pass and it would've just been one of those things."
Evans said he apologised to McLoughlin, now transport secretary, and his former deputy chief whip John Randall, and explained what had happened after the young man complained to them.Evans said he apologised to McLoughlin, now transport secretary, and his former deputy chief whip John Randall, and explained what had happened after the young man complained to them.
Speaking from the witness box, the MP said he admitted to the senior Tories that he had been drinking heavily since his mother died. He was told by McLoughlin: "Better watch your drinking."Speaking from the witness box, the MP said he admitted to the senior Tories that he had been drinking heavily since his mother died. He was told by McLoughlin: "Better watch your drinking."
Evans said he was not sanctioned and, asked whether he could have been sanctioned, the MP said: "Oh yes. Patrick could've ended my career there and then."Evans said he was not sanctioned and, asked whether he could have been sanctioned, the MP said: "Oh yes. Patrick could've ended my career there and then."
Asked whether there was any further reprimand after this meeting, which took place eight months before the 2010 general election, Evans said: "Absolutely none."Asked whether there was any further reprimand after this meeting, which took place eight months before the 2010 general election, Evans said: "Absolutely none."
The MP denied he was ordered not to drink on the parliamentary estate. He said: "It was the first Patrick had heard of it," when asked whether he told the chief whip that he was gay.The MP denied he was ordered not to drink on the parliamentary estate. He said: "It was the first Patrick had heard of it," when asked whether he told the chief whip that he was gay.
Evans also denied slipping his hand into the young man's boxer shorts and touching his penis during the encounter.Evans also denied slipping his hand into the young man's boxer shorts and touching his penis during the encounter.
The MP has pleaded not guilty to one rape, two indecent assaults, five sexual assaults and one attempted sexual assault.The MP has pleaded not guilty to one rape, two indecent assaults, five sexual assaults and one attempted sexual assault.
The trial continues.The trial continues.