‘Rape’ case former MP loses faith in police

A FORMER MP has criticised ‘politically correct’ police after they ruled a woman who made false child sex allegations against him should not be prosecuted for perverting the course of justice.

John Hemming, former Lib Dem MP for Birmingham Yardley, said their refusal to charge Esther Baker undermined the criminal justice system.

He hit out after Staffordshire Police told him via email that following a ‘review’ of his allegations, it had decided there was ‘insufficient evidence’ to proceed.

The email came more than three years after Mr Hemming first alleged Miss Baker had perverted the course of justice over her claims of child sex abuse.

And it came nine months after the Crown Prosecution Service ruled there was insufficient evidence to charge him over her paedophile accusations.

Mr Hemming, 58, and others – including a political grandee – had been accused by Miss Baker of repeatedly raping her in a forest at Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, in the 1980s and 1990s when she was between six and 11 – while police kept guard.

Staffordshire Police took the decision not to take action against Miss Baker, who is in her mid-30s, without seeking advice from the CPS.

A spokesman said: ‘After careful consideration, it has been determined there is insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.’

Multi-millionaire businessman Mr Hemming said: ‘I feel really let down by the criminal justice system and have lost all faith in the police. If it can happen to me, a former MP, it can happen to anyone.’

Miss Baker denies being a fantasist.