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Ex-MP Charlie Elphicke chanted ‘I’m a naughty Tory’ after sexually assaulting woman, court hears

Former Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke arriving at Southwark Crown Court, where he faces three charges of sexual assault.
Charlie Elphicke faces three charges of sexual assault. (PA)

A former Conservative MP chanted “I’m a naughty Tory” after sexually assaulting a woman at his home, a court heard.

Charlie Elphicke, MP for Dover from 2010 to 2019, left his victim “horrified”, Southwark Crown Court heard on Monday.

Elphicke is standing trial facing one count of sexual assault in 2007 and two further counts against a second woman in 2016. He denies all charges.

Opening the case, prosecutor Eloise Marshall told jurors there were “striking similarities” between the two alleged events.

One involved a woman in her 30s, while the other involved a parliamentary worker in her 20s, the court was told.

Former Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke arriving at Southwark Crown Court, where he faces three charges of sexual assault.
Former Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke arriving at Southwark Crown Court. (PA)

Marshall said both women rejected Elphicke.

The prosecutor said the women accusing Elphicke came forward to police following the publication in 2017 of a list of names of MPs alleged to have acted inappropriately.

The court heard how the 2007 allegation involved a woman who said she was “flattered” to be invited to have a drink with Elphicke at his home, and had opened a bottle of wine costing £40.

Marshall said Elphicke began asking about what she liked to do sexually with her boyfriend, and whether she liked “leather”.

Elphicke’s wife Natalie was said to be away from home at the time.

Former Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke arriving at Southwark Crown Court, London, alongside MP for Dover Natalie Elphicke, where he faces three charges of sexual assault.
Charlie Elphicke and Natalie Elphicke, who replaced him as MP for Dover last year. (PA)

The prosecutor said: “She says he said something along the lines of ‘he likes bondage and whips’.”

Marshall said the incident was “weird”.

Marshall said the woman was told to come towards Elphicke so he could top up her wine 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.”

The prosecutor described Elphicke’s behaviour immediately afterwards.

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 said Elphicke 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 with Elphicke described it being “like a sketch from The Benny Hill Show”.

The jury heard that what the woman had heard from the victim on the phone “gave her real cause for concern”.

The woman heard that there had been “a chase” in which Elphicke tried to slap the victim’s bottom.

She said the alleged victim did not sound drunk on the phone that evening, the jury heard.

The young woman was also said to have phoned her brother after the alleged incident, who described her as sounding “distressed, and almost hysterical”.

Meanwhile, the court heard that a parliamentary worker was said to have been in her “dream job” when she found herself in Elphicke’s company sharing a bottle of champagne in April 2016.

Prosecutor Marshall said the witness described how Elphicke allegedly assaulted her in Westminster.

The young woman said: “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 “clearly rejected” Elphicke, told him he was married, and that there was a large age gap.

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.”

The prosecutor told the court the former MP allegedly “grabbed her hands and tried to kiss her again”, adding that the alleged victim “knew she had to get out of there”.

Elphicke then allegedly behaved as if nothing had happened and went on to put his arms inside her coat.

Marshall told jurors he said to the woman: “Oh, I’m naughty sometimes aren’t I? I can be so badly behaved but I can’t help it.”

Jurors were also told Elphicke was “giggling”.

The alleged victims cannot be named for legal reasons.

Elphicke was supported at court on Monday by his wife Natalie, who is the new MP for Dover.

The trial continues.