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Former Conservative MP chanted 'I'm a naughty Tory' after groping woman, court hears

Charlie Elphicke with his wife Natalie
Charlie Elphicke with his wife Natalie

Charlie Elphicke, a former Conservative MP, chanted ‘I’m a naughty Tory’ after groping a woman at his home while his wife was away, a court has heard.

Mr Elphicke, 49, who represented Dover between 2010 and 2019, allegedly grabbed the woman’s breast after discussing his interest in bondage and whips.

The alleged victim said he then chased her round the room trying to smack her bottom in a manner that was later likened to a sketch from the “Benny Hill show”.

Mr Elphicke has gone on trial at Southwark Crown Court accused of one count of sexual assault against the woman in 2007 and two further counts against a different woman in 2016.

Opening the case against him, Eloise Marshall QC, prosecuting, said the first charge related to an alleged incident that was said to have taken place at his home in 2007.

She said the woman had been “flattered” when Mr Elphicke had invited her for a drink at his home and had then opened a £40 bottle of wine.

Ms Marshall told the court that Mr Elphicke, whose wife was away at the time, had asked the woman questions about what she liked to do sexually with her boyfriend, and whether she liked "leather".

The prosecutor said: "She says he said something along the lines of, 'he likes bondage and whips'."

Ms Marshall said Mr Elphicke had them asked the woman to come closer so he could top up her glass.

He then assaulted her on the sofa, reaching into her top to grope her breast and trying to kiss her, the jurors were told.

The prosecutor said: "She (the alleged victim) immediately shouted: ‘No.’ She was shocked. The whole incident was completely unexpected."

Describing Mr Elphicke’s alleged behaviour immediately afterwards, Ms Marshall said: "He was chanting in a sing-song way: 'I'm a naughty Tory, I'm a naughty Tory', as though it was the school playground."

The victim said he was "very animated, excited and clearly enjoying himself".

She claimed Mr Elphicke then chased her around the home, trying to smack her bottom.

The jury was told the victim "felt horrified by the entire situation”.

A woman who was told by the alleged victim via telephone about what had happened on the evening described it being "like a sketch from The Benny Hill Show”.

The second alleged incident too place in 2016 and involved a parliamentary worker, the court was told.

The alleged victim said she had been sharing a bottle of champagne with the MP in Westminster when the incident took place.

Ms Marshall said the woman claimed: "He fully came at me, pulled his body towards me. He had his face on (her) face.

"He had his mouth open, continually trying to kiss me. It was like a disgusting slobbery mess."

The prosecutor said the woman had "clearly rejected" Mr Elphicke, telling him he was married, and that there was a large age gap.

Mr Elphicke was said to have replied: "What's the matter? Don't you like me? Everything's fine."

He later told the alleged victim: "I knew you'd bring my age into it."

Ms Marshall told jurors Mr Elphicke was giggling and said to the woman: "Oh I'm naughty sometimes aren't I? I can be so badly behaved but I can't help it."

The court heard that the woman complained to the Tory whips office telling Anne Milton MP, the Conservative deputy chief whip, about the allegations.

But he had told Ms Milton that "nothing whatsoever had happened".

Mr Elphicke was subsequently arrested by police and but denied both the 2007 and 2016 incidents.

Mr Elphicke, who denies all the charges, was supported in court by his wife, Natalie, who is the current Conservative MP for Dover.

The trial is listed to last for up to four weeks.