Court told of ‘almost identical’ assaults by former MP

A MARRIED former Conservative MP sexually assaulted two women nearly a decade apart in “almost identical” circumstances while his wife was away, a court has heard.

Charlie Elphicke, who represented Dover from 2010 until 2019, has repeatedly denied groping two women, trying to kiss them, and then describing himself as “naughty”.

The first incident was said to have involved a woman in her early 30s who was invited to share a drink at his London home in 2007.

The second complainant is a parliamentary worker in her early 20s who Elphicke propositioned and allegedly groped in Westminster in April 2016.

She also accused him of running his hand up her leg towards her groin in a separate incident the following month.

Cross-examining Elphicke at Southwark Crown Court, prosecutor Eloise Marshall said of the second complainant’s evidence: “She appears to be telling lies about you which are almost identical to nine years earlier (involving the woman in her 30s).

“Is it an incredible coincidence these two women are making up – according to you – exactly the same lie?”

Elphicke replied: “I cannot account for what they are saying. I can say I did not sexually assault either of these women.”

The prosecutor said: “The issue for this jury is who is lying and who is telling the truth.”

Elphicke replied: “The jury has to decide who is guilty of these crimes. I did not sexually assault these women.”

Giving evidence for a second day, Elphicke told the 11 members of the jury that he was not attracted to the woman in her 30s, but that he wanted to “have a physical relationship” with the second complainant, a parliamentary worker more than 20 years younger than him.

The 49-year-old said he invited the woman for a drink and told her he liked her, thinking their feelings were “a two-way street”.

Father-of-two Elphicke – who told jurors he had lied to his wife, lied to police, and had an affair with a third woman who is not a complainant in this case – denies three counts of sexual assault.

The trial continues.