Court told Nigel Evans sexually abused man in Westminster kitchen

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A man who claims MP Nigel Evans sexually abused him in a darkened kitchen at Westminster told two MPs about the alleged attack, Preston Crown Court has heard.

The witness said Mr Evans groped him in February 2011 while a party took place in his office.

Jurors heard the man, who works in Parliament, had told Conservative MP Andrew Percy and Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop about the alleged incident.

The BBC reports Mr Percy had attended a late-night drinks gathering hosted by Mr Evans near his deputy speaker offices.

At some point he noticed that the complainant had left the room, the court heard.

In a statement read to jurors, Mr Percy said: “I don’t know how long he had been. When he returned he said to [his friend] and myself something along the lines of ‘Nigel has tried to come on to me’.

“I cannot remember the exact details as to what was described but I can say that he described it as an unwanted advance.”

The alleged victim went on to tell Mr Blenkinsop about the matter.

Mr Blenkinsop said in a statement: “He had disclosed he had been at a party with Nigel Evans. During this party Mr Evans made advances to [the alleged victim] and he had not been happy about what had taken place.”

Mr Blenkinsop added that the incident had not been referred to or discussed since until he was contacted by police last year.

The trial has now heard from six of the men against whom Mr Evans is said to have committed offences.

The seventh complainant, who alleges he was raped at the MP’s home in Pendleton, Lancashire, is due to give evidence later.

Earlier this week the court heard testimony from Conservative Party Vice Chairman Michael Fabricant about allegations that Mr Evans had sexually assaulted a young man in 2009.

Mr Fabricant described the allegations against the MP as “out of character”.

Nigal Evans denies two counts of indecent assault, six of sexual assault and one of rape.

The Ribble Valley MP resigned as deputy speaker of the House of Commons after he was charged in September last year.

The trial continues.

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