London:
Britain's deputy speaker of the House of Commons Nigel Evans has been arrested on suspicion of three counts of indecent assault on young men.
The 55-year-old leader answered bail today at Preston police station in the north-west of England following his arrest in May on suspicion of rape and sexual assault and was told that he faced the additional allegations.
All the claims involve men in their twenties. Evans, Conservative MP for Ribble Valley since 1992, has been excused from his parliamentary duties while inquiries continue.
He strenuously denies any wrongdoing. The original rape and sexual assault allegations are said to have taken place in Pendleton between July 2009 and March 2013.
The new indecent assault allegations are claimed to have occurred in Blackpool and London between 2003 and 2011.
"A 55-year-old man from Pendleton in Lancashire has today answered his bail following his arrest in May on suspicion of rape and sexual assault. He has subsequently been further arrested on suspicion of three further offences of indecent assault. He will be interviewed about these allegations at a police station in Lancashire during the course of the day," a Lancashire Police spokesperson said.
"We take all allegations of a sexual nature extremely seriously and understand how difficult it can be for victims to have the confidence to come forward. As a constabulary, we are committed to investigating sexual offences sensitively but robustly recognising the impact that these types of crimes have on victims," he added.
Last month, Mr Evans had dismissed the original allegations against him as "completely false", and said they had been made by two people he had "regarded as friends".
Elected as one of three Commons deputy speakers in 2010, he has stepped aside from his duties in that role since his arrest, but has continued to work as an MP.
The 55-year-old leader answered bail today at Preston police station in the north-west of England following his arrest in May on suspicion of rape and sexual assault and was told that he faced the additional allegations.
All the claims involve men in their twenties. Evans, Conservative MP for Ribble Valley since 1992, has been excused from his parliamentary duties while inquiries continue.
He strenuously denies any wrongdoing. The original rape and sexual assault allegations are said to have taken place in Pendleton between July 2009 and March 2013.
The new indecent assault allegations are claimed to have occurred in Blackpool and London between 2003 and 2011.
"A 55-year-old man from Pendleton in Lancashire has today answered his bail following his arrest in May on suspicion of rape and sexual assault. He has subsequently been further arrested on suspicion of three further offences of indecent assault. He will be interviewed about these allegations at a police station in Lancashire during the course of the day," a Lancashire Police spokesperson said.
"We take all allegations of a sexual nature extremely seriously and understand how difficult it can be for victims to have the confidence to come forward. As a constabulary, we are committed to investigating sexual offences sensitively but robustly recognising the impact that these types of crimes have on victims," he added.
Last month, Mr Evans had dismissed the original allegations against him as "completely false", and said they had been made by two people he had "regarded as friends".
Elected as one of three Commons deputy speakers in 2010, he has stepped aside from his duties in that role since his arrest, but has continued to work as an MP.
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