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Charlie Elphicke’s wife Natalie, a Dover MP, said their marriage was over.
A former Conservative MP has been convicted of sexually assaulting two women.
Charlie Elphicke, 49, a former Dover MP, denied having groped women in similar situations nine years apart.
He was convicted of one count of sexual assault in 2007, and two other charges against a second woman in 2016.
His wife Natalie Elphicke, a current Dover deputy, said her husband’s actions have ended their marriage. He will be sentenced in September.
Ms Elphicke, who was present at the trial at Southwark Crown Court, said the verdict “brings deep sorrow” and “ends my 25-year marriage to the only man I have ever loved.”
She tweeted, “I would ask for some personal space and time to accept the shocking events of the past 3 years.”
- Why did it take so long to bring the former deputy to justice?
Releasing Elphicke on bail by sentence on September 15, Judge Ms Justice Whipple said: “There is a very real possibility that he will face immediate custody.”
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The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Elphicke had “abused his power and influence over these women to make unwanted and forceful sexual advances towards them.”
Elphicke’s trial heard that he had thrown himself at a woman, in her 30s, at her London home in 2007 the first night his wife was away after the birth of their child.
He forced his victim onto a couch and touched his chest as he tried to kiss her, before chasing after her and singing “I’m a naughty Tory.”
“He tried to kiss me and I shook my head, he pushed me by the shoulders,” the woman told the jury.
“He had his knee between my legs and he was feeling my chest.”
Elphicke told the court that he attempted to kiss the woman “under a misunderstanding” after she became “tactile,” but denied the sexual assault.
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Elphicke, photographed with Boris Johnson on July 11, 2019, was suspended by conservatives after being charged later that month.
In 2016, he sexually assaulted a parliamentary worker in her 20s, first trying to kiss the woman and touch her chest.
“His mouth was open, continually trying to kiss me,” his victim told the court. “It was like a disgusting slime mess.”
In the second round several weeks later, he ran his hand down the inside of her thigh to her groin.
Elphicke had told the jury that he was “in love” with the younger woman and wanted a sexual relationship with her.
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Natalie Elphicke left Southwark Crown Court alone after the verdict
Conservatives suspended him when “serious allegations” were relayed to police in November 2017, but the whip was restored before a vote of confidence against then Prime Minister Theresa May in 2018.
She was again suspended after being charged with three counts of sexual assault on July 22, 2019. Ms. Elphicke succeeded her husband as a deputy for Dover in December of that year.
CPS Natalie Dawson said Elphicke had “lied repeatedly” and “had not taken responsibility for his behavior and the harm suffered by his victims.”
The attacks had a “profound impact” on women, who “feared for their careers if they reported it,” she said.
“I hope that these convictions today give other victims the confidence to report sexual abuse, no matter how powerful their abuser is,” added Dawson.
Sergeant Michael McInerney of the Met Police said the assaults were “alarming and distressing incidents” for both women and praised their “courage to report the incidents and cooperate with the police investigation.”
Conservatives said in a statement, “The sexual assault is completely unacceptable and we extend our condolences to the victims.
“We have introduced a Code of Conduct where people can report complaints confidentially. If a serious charge is brought, we would immediately advise the person to contact the police.”
