Nigel Evans cleared of rape and sex assaults against men

David Cameron hints Evans could return to Parliament
Not guilty: Nigel Evans leaves Preston Crown Court after speaking to media
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Former Commons Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans was today cleared of sex offences against seven men over 11 years as a MP.

Evans, 56, a former Tory party vice-chairman, is now free to return to Westminster and resume his political career.

But he admitted during his trial at Preston Crown Court that the gay sex slurs he had faced have killed his ambition to become Speaker.

Evans, the MP for Ribble Valley, had resigned to become an Independent when he was charged with nine offences last September.

Released: Nigel Evans leaves court with unidentified friends (Picture: Getty)

Today he was unanimously found not guilty by the jury of one count of rape, two indecent assaults, five sexual assaults and an attempted sexual assault.

He wept in the dock as the jury returned their verdicts.

During the trial he was accused of being a drunken letcher who used the power of his position to sexually molest younger men.

The allegations started with claims that in 2002 he had shoved his hand down a party worker’s trousers and culminating in the rape of a young man at his constituency home in Lancashire last year.

Fellow MPs and Tory Chief Whip Patrick McLoughlin warned him about his drinking.

The prosecution said the sex assaults escalated because he believed that none of his victims would dare to report him.

But Evans described the allegations as “ridiculous” and said he had been depicted as "a cross between Alan Clark, Benny Hill and Oscar Wilde".

He said one of his alleged victim was “Machiavellian” and at the “centre of the web” of a plot against him.

Evans suggested this man had “choreographed events” as he was the common link between four other complainants in the case.

The MP claimed the allege rape victim was in “a conspiracy” with other alleged victims to bring him down.

He did admit having sex with the 22-year-old man after a dinner party at his home in Pendleton.

He said he had initiated kissing and cuddling downstairs before they went to his bedroom "both of their own free will".

Denying he had taken advantage of the younger man, the MP told the court: “What did he expect when we both got into the bed in our underwear when there were two other bedrooms?”

The alleged victim had told the jury that he had got into bed with Evans but got out a number of times to hide in the bathroom texting a friend.

He had then got back into the bed each time hoping Evans was asleep.

Turning to the early alleged assaults Evans said he had no recollection of allegedly placing his hand men’s trousers when drunk first in a Soho bar and then at the Imperial hotel, Blackpool during the Tory party conference.

He denied he had made a pass at these men nor on a young man he allegedly leaned forward to kiss behind a curtain near the Strangers Bar in the Commons.

The MP told the court it "goes from the bizarre to the bunkum" that he would do that.

He also denied claims he had "cupped" the genitals of another man in Strangers Bar and sexually assaulting a Westminster worker in a kitchen near his deputy speaker's offices.

Leaving court: Nigel Evans is released from Preston Crown Court after he was found not guilty (Picture: Reuters)

During emotional evidence from the witness box he described the “absolute hell” of being falsely accused which reduced his friend Vicky Entwistle, the ex-Coronation Street star, to tears in the public gallery.

Speaking outside Preston Crown Court, Evans thanked his legal team for their support during "11 months of hell."

He said: "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.

"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.

"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.

Outside court: the former deputy speaker with two friends (Picture: Getty)

"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."

David Cameron hinted Evans could be making a return to Parliament.

The Prime Minister said: "It is hard to imagine the relief that Nigel must feel after such a traumatic time.

"I very much welcome what he said on the steps of the court and I think everyone should pay heed to that.

"I'm sure he will want to get on with working with his constituents in the Ribble Valley and, as for the future, I'm sure it's something he'll be discussing with the chief whip when he returns to Parliament."

Read More

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in