MP ‘Opened £40 Bottle Of Wine, Asked Guest If She Liked Lace & Leather, Then Groped Her'

Tory Elphicke in court on sex assault raps

- Tom Pettifor

A former Conservative MP sexually assaulted a woman and then chased her around his kitchen in scenes “like a sketch from The Benny Hill Show”, a court heard.

Charlie Elphicke, 49, allegedly chanted “I’m a naughty Tory, I’m a naughty Tory” while pursuing her.

And jurors were told he was “excited and clearly enjoying himself ” as he tried to slap her bottom, behaving “as though it was the school playground”.

Elphicke, a married father of two, is accused of groping the woman and trying to kiss her after inviting her round for a drink while his wife was away.

Southwark crown court heard he opened a £40 bottle of wine and began asking her about her sexual interests, including if she liked “lace and leather”.

Jurors were told Elphicke – aged 36 at the time of the alleged incident in 2007, the year he was selected as the Tory candidate for Dover – also said he liked “bondage and whips”.

Prosecutor Eloise Marshall QC said Elphicke allegedly told the woman to come to him so he could top up her glass.