Now Pincher could face police quiz over claims he ‘touched up’ activist
A YOUNG Tory activist who accuses Chris Pincher of groping him is planning to make a statement to police, the Daily Mail has learned.
The new alleged victim, whose accusation adds to the six fresh claims made against the Tamworth MP over the weekend, has told friends that he was ‘touched up’ by Mr Pincher in a car last year.
The man – a constituency member who was trying to get a job in politics at the time – is said to have been so angered by the number of alleged victims that he plans to ‘do something about it’ and go to the police, friends revealed.
It comes as a second alleged victim from the constituency, also not previously known about, is said to have made claims against the former deputy chief whip.
Yesterday, members of Mr Pincher’s Conservative association and voters in Staffordshire called for the MP to stand down.
Mr Pincher, 52, quit as Tory deputy chief whip last week after he was accused of drunkenly groping two men at a private members’ club in London.
The Prime Minister eventually bowed to pressure to remove the whip from his ally after an investigation was launched, meaning Mr Pincher sits as an independent MP.
After several accusations from other alleged victims over the weekend, the Mail has learned that there are further claims from activists in his constituency.
As well as the man who claims he was groped in a car by the former senior Tory, a second alleged victim is said to have been groped by Mr Pincher some time ago.
An association member said: ‘One of the [alleged victims] is planning to go to the police. He was trying to get into politics and that’s how they knew each other.
‘He said last week that he was going to wait to see if anyone else reported similar
‘Angry about the way No 10 have dealt with it’
incidents before going to the police. After seeing the multiple allegations this weekend, he said “I’m going to do something about it”. He is very annoyed. He said he couldn’t believe it was still happening.’
Mr Pincher stepped down on Thursday night after a drunken evening in London’s Carlton Club on Wednesday.
Speaking for the first time, one of the alleged victims at the club told The Sunday Times: ‘I had my drink in my hand and then he then went down and grabbed my arse and then slowly... moved his hand down the front of my groin. I froze a little bit and it ended after about two or three seconds. It was a very bizarre thing.’
The alleged victim excused himself and went to the bathroom.
He added: ‘I texted a friend to tell them what happened because I wanted a contemporaneous record.’ The man claimed he approached Sarah Dines, a junior whip, who had witnessed the alleged assault.
The alleged victim added: ‘My first reaction to what had happened was that I wasn’t going to take it any further. I just thought this is something that happens in Westminster. It hasn’t happened to me before. It can be quietly dealt with. But I am angered by the fact that I should feel like that, and even more angry by the way No 10 have dealt with it... I am furious.’
One local councillor in Tamworth said: ‘These stories about Chris’s behaviour weren’t particularly surprising to men within the constituency.’ Asked if a byelection should be held, the councillor, who did not want to be named, said: ‘It’s up to the electorate to voice their opinions. I have a view that he is not a fit and proper person to be an MP – he has admitted to some of this after all.’ But David Salter, another Tory councillor in the constituency, defended Mr Pincher, saying: ‘He’s a brilliant MP and I’ve known him for a long time... I would like him to carry on.’ Mr Pincher was approached for comment.