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Nigel Evans urges review of historical sex assault cases Nigel Evans urges review of historical sex assault cases
(35 minutes later)
The power of the Crown Prosecution Service to pursue historical allegations of sexual assault should be investigated, MP Nigel Evans has said. The power of the Crown Prosecution Service to pursue historical allegations of sexual assault should be investigated, MP Nigel Evans has said four days after his own acquittal.
Mr Evans, who was cleared of rape and sexual assault last Thursday, said the CPS has pursued his case and a number of others because it regretted failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile. Mr Evans, cleared of rape and sexual assault charges, suggested the CPS pursued his case because it regretted failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile.
He called on the Home Affairs Select Committee launch a probe. He urged the Home Affairs Select Committee to investigate.
The CPS has insisted the decision to take Mr Evans to court was correct.The CPS has insisted the decision to take Mr Evans to court was correct.
'Darkest moments'
Speaking on ITV's Daybreak, in his first TV interview since being cleared, Mr Evans said he had considered suicide in his "darkest moments".
He called on MPs to look at the system in the US, where a "statute of limitation" restricts the ability of prosecutors to pursue cases that are "decades" old.
In an interview with the Mail on Sunday over the weekend, Mr Evans - the former deputy speaker of the House of Commons - had said the CPS should be forced to pay his £130,000 legal bill.
Realistic prospect
Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders has defended the decision to prosecute Mr Evans.
She said on Friday that the CPS applied the "same test no matter who the offender or the victim is".
"We looked at all the evidence and decided there was a realistic prospect of conviction," she added.
Lancashire Police has also defended its "fair, professional and proportionate" handling of the case.
Det Supt Ian Critchley said the force had pursued Mr Evans in the same way it would anyone else.