Father-in-law of Pippa Middleton accused of raping a minor in France
THE father-in-law of Pippa Middleton is being investigated by French police over allegations he raped a female minor. David Matthews, the father of James Matthews, who married the Duchess of Cambridge’s sister, was questioned by police on Tuesday over an alleged attack and placed under formal investigation by a magistrate.
The alleged rape is said to have happened in 1998-99, and was reported to police in 2017. Mr Matthews denies the “untrue and scandalous accusation”.
Under French law, being put under formal investigation means there is “serious or consistent evidence” that points to probable involvement in a crime. It is a step toward a trial but investigations can be dropped without proceeding to court.
After questioning, Mr Matthews was freed but remains under judicial control, meaning prosecutors have attached conditions to his release or imposed certain limits on who he can meet or where he can go. A judicial source told The Daily Telegraph his “freedom of movement” has not been restricted, meaning he does not have to remain in France. Kensington Palace, which represents the Duchess of Cambridge, did not comment.
The 74-year-old, a millionaire former racing driver who owns the Eden Roc hotel on St Barths in the Caribbean – a favourite celebrity haunt which has hosted the Middleton family – was present at the wedding of James Matthews and Pippa Middleton in May 2017.
A Paris judicial official told The Telegraph: “I confirm that David M was placed in police custody on 27 March at the Brigade for the Protection of Minors. Following his arrest, the Paris public prosecutor’s office opened a judicial investigation, overlooked by an examining magistrate.
“He was placed under judicial supervision by the investigating judge. The investigation alleges that the crimes were committed in 1998 and 1999. The investigations will now continue as a judicial investigation and will be led by an investigating judge.”
A spokesman for Mr Matthews said: “David Matthews categorically denies the allegation and unequivocally contests the untrue and scandalous accusation.”
Mr Matthews, the son of a Yorkshire coal miner, is a self-made millionaire who rose from his first job as a garage mechanic to become a racing driver.
In 1971 he won a division of the British Touring Car Championships.