Former MP weeps as he tells court of affair

FORMER CONSERVATIVE MP Charlie Elphicke broke down in court as he described being unfaithful to his wife, but denied sexually assaulting two other women.

Elphicke, MP for Dover between 2010 and 2019, said he tried to keep his affair with another woman secret from his wife because he did not think his marriage would survive.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is not one of the complainants in the trial at Southwark Crown Court.

Elphicke’s voice cracked and he reached for a tissue as he took to the witness box to answer questions from defence counsel Ian Winter QC.

Elphicke told jurors he had a sexual relationship with another woman, from 2015, but had not told his wife, Natalie Elphicke, his successor as Dover MP.

He told jurors: “After I was suspended, there were a lot of rumours. She (Mrs Elphicke) challenged me about it. I basically denied it.”

He added: “I didn’t think I could explain to Natalie – I didn’t think my marriage would survive this.”

He also admitted not telling the truth to police when they asked him about a parliamentary worker in her 20s he is accused of sexually assaulting in 2016.

Elphicke appeared to become emotional as he described how he kept his feelings for the woman from his wife.

He said: “I didn’t know how to explain it to Natalie – it was an emotional attachment (to the other woman). I think she would be very hurt and I didn’t want that.”

Elphicke denies two sexual assaults. The case continues.