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Nigel Evans found not guilty: MP speaks outside court to say ‘nothing will ever be the same again’ Nigel Evans found not guilty: MP speaks outside court to say ‘nothing will ever be the same again’
(34 minutes later)
Speaking outside court after he was cleared of all charges following a rape and sex assault trial in Preston, the former deputy speaker Nigel Evans said he had been put through “11 months of hell”. Senior Tories rallied behind the former deputy speaker of the House of Commons demanding urgent changes in the way that sexual offence cases are prosecuted following his acquittal of abuse charges involving seven men.
A jury at Preston Crown Court found that the 56-year-old was not guilty on all nine counts at the end of a five week trial in which it had been claimed the powerful MP abused his position to carry out drunken attacks dating back to 2003. Nigel Evans said he had been through “11 months of hell” after he was found not guilty on nine counts including raping a 22-year-old student at his constituency home.
Mr Evans was unanimously cleared of one count of rape, five of sexual assaults, one attempted sexual assault and two indecent assaults. The MP for Ribble Valley echoed the words of Coronation Street star Bill Roache, who was cleared at the same court earlier this year on historic sex abuse charges saying this was not a time for “celebrations or euphoria”.
Speaking outside Preston Crown Court, Evans said: "Can I first start by passing on my condolences to one of the jurors whose father died during the trial. My deepest condolences to him and his family. He said: “Bill Roache just a few weeks ago from this very spot said there are no winners in these cases and that's absolutely right there are no winners, so no celebrations. But the fact is I've got work to do, work that I've done for the last 22 years. All I can say is that after the last 11 months that I've gone through, nothing will ever be the same again.”
"Can I also thank my legal team....I thank them for their support during this trial. The jury at Preston Crown Court took just four and a half hours to find the former frontbench spokesman not guilty on all charges. It was alleged the powerful MP had abused his position to carry out drunken attacks dating back to 2003.
"As many of you know I've gone through 11 months of hell. Three of the incidents were alleged to have occurred in bars and corridors in Parliament. He is the latest public figure to be found not guilty following a long investigation into historic sexual abuse allegations by police in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.
"I've not been alone. Many have walked with me including my team at Clitheroe and Westminster, my constituency association, my family, my friends, my constituents and indeed many people who I don't even know have sent messages of support. Mr Evans’ friends immediately welcomed the result. Former shadow Home Secretary David Davis MP the case highlighted  “serious concerns” over how the police and the Crown Prosecution Service brought sexual offence cases to court.
"In my darkest and loneliest times, there were only two or one set of footprints in the sand. Those of you of faith will know, they weren't mine. “In particular we must now review the process whereby the police and the CPS put together a large number of lesser, subsidiary cases in order to reinforce one serious case when prosecuting sexual offences,” he said.
"The fact is I've got work to do. It's the work that I've done for the last 22 years so this isn't a time for celebration or euphoria. Friend and colleague Crispin Blunt MP told Sky News he was “overjoyed and relieved” but said the CPS had been overzealous in its conduct of the case.
"Bill Roache just a few weeks ago from this very spot said there are no winners in these cases and that's absolutely right there are no winners, so no celebrations. He said it was time to look again at the issue of anonymity for those accused of sexual offences – at least until the point of being charged. The policy had been included in the Coalition agreement but had since been shelved.
"But the fact is I've got work to do, work that I've done for the last 22 years. All I can say is that after the last 11 months that I've gone through, nothing will ever be the same again." Tory international development minister Alan Duncan said on Twitter: “Delighted Nigel Evans has been cleared of all charges. We all wish him well.”
Former shadow home secretary David Davis said the case highlighted "serious concerns" about how the police and Crown Prosecution Service operated and called for the practice of using lesser charges being used to "reinforce" a more serious one to be looked at. Meanwhile, former Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik, who gave evidence in the case said: “Nigel Evans is innocent. I always said so. He could never have been guilty as far as I was concerned. Justice is done.”
Mr Davis said: "This case has highlighted serious concerns over how the police and the Crown Prosecution Service bring sexual offence cases to court. In particular we must now review the process whereby the police and the Crown Prosecution Service put together a large number of lesser, subsidiary cases in order to reinforce one serious case when prosecuting sexual offences. Mr Evans said that he had had consensual sex with a 22-year-old student at his constituency home in 2013 and that the younger man later regretted sleeping with him and had gone to the police.
"It is clear from the way that this case proceeded that there is a risk of a serious injustice being done to an innocent man, and I would call on the Attorney General to urgently review this issue." The man’s allegations prompted Lancashire Police to speak to dozens of witnesses eventually bringing charges in relation to seven men who were all in their 20s at the time the alleged incidents which dated back a decade earlier.
Tory MPs have welcomed Evans's acquittal and called for the party whip to be restored to him. However, in evidence two of the men said they did not consider themselves to be the victims of a criminal indecent assault. The prosecution alleged the former shadow Cabinet member had put his hand down one of the men’s trousers whilst drinking at a Soho bar. A second similar incident was alleged to have occurred in a late night bar during the Tory party conference in Blackpool.
Stephen Crabb wrote: "So pleased for my friend Nigel Evans today. A good man. Horrid experience to go through." In evidence the senior Tory argued he was the victim of a conspiracy organised by another of the alleged victims, a young Westminster worker, who he had considered to be a friend but who was known to four of the complainants.
Michael Fabricant, who was sacked as a party vice-chairman yesterday, wrote on twitter: "Wonderful news that Nigel Evans has been acquitted on all counts. The Party Whip must now be restored to him without delay!" The man had claimed he was intimately touched by Mr Evans whilst also staying over at his cottage in Pendleton, Lancashire in 2009 resulting in a meeting with the then chief whip Patrick McLoughlin, now Transport Secretary, and a number of other senior party figures.
And there was cross-party support too, after Labour's Austin Mitchell posted: "There is some justice. Well not done Nigel. Happy for you." At the meeting it was decided Mr Evans, who came out as gay in 2010, should not stand down but apologise. He was told to cut down on his drinking and stop socialising with younger people in and around Westminster. 
The matter was eventually brought to the attention of Tory MP Dr Sarah Wollaston, a qualified GP who had previously worked with victims of sexual and domestic violence.
She told the court she was frustrated when Speaker John Bercow said he had been advised he could not discuss the matter after taking legal advice.
Mr Bercow said he urged the victims to go the police
The defence said that other charges were either the result of “drunken overfamiliarity”, the misreading of signals or simply did not happen.
Mr Evans resigned his position as one of three deputy speakers following his arrest last year. He has not returned to the Conservatives in the Commons and is representing his constituents as an independent.
Lancashire Constabulary said all of the evidence was subjected to "careful scrutiny" before Mr Evans was charged.
Detective Superintendent Ian Critchley, the force's head of public protection, said there had been sufficient evidence to justify a realistic prospect of conviction.
“We have worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service from an early stage, and all of the evidence was subjected to careful scrutiny before a decision was taken to charge, particularly where complainants did not see themselves as victims,” he said.
Downing Street said David Cameron had "confidence" in the work of the CPS.