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Charlie Elphicke is charged with three counts of sexual assault
A parliamentary employee “groped” by a former Conservative MP confided in one other lady who labored in Westminster, a court docket has heard.
Charlie Elphicke, 49, is accused of assaulting the younger lady in 2016.
A Westminster employee informed Southwark Crown Courtroom that considered one of his alleged victims had spoken to her, saying “Charlie had acted inappropriately”.
Mr Elphicke, the previous Tory MP for Dover, denies three counts of sexual assault.
The witness mentioned the alleged sufferer was “very nervous” about telling anybody what had occurred.
“She was so distraught,” the lady informed the court docket, including that she requested her to say nothing.
‘Very good wine’
She additionally mentioned that in texts the alleged sufferer mentioned: “It is a soiled recreation right here.”
Earlier, an announcement from a detailed pal of the parliamentary employee was learn to the court docket.
The pal mentioned Mr Elphicke had taken the alleged sufferer out for dinner and drinks and “supplied her very good wine from his wine cellar”.
The pal mentioned she had knowledgeable him Mr Elphicke may very well be “handsy”, and had as soon as contacted him (her pal) within the night asking him to choose her up, and that she was “visibly distressed” when he arrived.
Stood down
The pal mentioned: “She informed me Charlie had made an advance on her, and my understanding was that was a sexual advance.”
Mr Elphicke was an MP from 2010 till 2019, when he stood down.
He was succeeded by his spouse, who has accompanied him to court docket all through the trial.
The trial continues.