A judge says the former Conservative MP is a “sexual predator” who used his “success and respectability as a cover”.
Former Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke has been sentenced to two years in prison for three sexual assaults on two younger women.
Elphicke was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault following a trial at Southwark Crown Court back in July this year.
The 49-year-old was on trial accused of groping one woman in his home in 2007 while Natalie Elphicke, his wife and successor as Dover MP, was away on work business for the first time since giving birth to their son.
Wife Natalie who replaced him as MP for Dover and left him after the guilty verdict in July came out in his defence, saying he didn’t get a “fair trial.”
She said: “The court seems to be on a bit of a mission, it entirely ignored the report of a highly experienced probation officer as well as sentencing guidelines.
“There is no doubt that Charlie behaved badly. However, everyone, Charlie included, has the right to a fair trial, and I don’t believe that he has had one.”
Elphicke was also charged with sexually assaulting a second complainant, a parliamentary worker in her early 20s, twice in 2016.
On Tuesday (15 September) Elphicke was sentenced to a total of two years imprisonment.
In her sentencing remarks Mrs Justice Whipple told him: “This was a campaign of harassment, it required planning to get her alone with you.
“Both women described similar and shocking allegations on them. You’re a sexual predator who used your success and respectability as a cover.”
You made your victims come to court,” she said.
The Judge said the former Conservative MP is a “sexual predator” who used his “success and respectability as a cover”.
“They told the truth, and you told a pack of lies – not only to the jury, but your wife, the whips and the police.”
Elphicke showed no emotion as he was sentenced – and has since confirmed through his spokesman that he is seeking to overturn the conviction.
Prosecutor Eloise Marshall QC read a statement from the woman, who was in her early 30s at the time and said Elphicke chanted “I’m a naughty Tory” moments after the assault as he chased his first victim around his central London family home in summer 2007, moments after groping her
He has also been ordered to pay £35,000 towards the costs of the prosecution, within 12 months. One of former MP Charlie Elphicke’s victims has welcomed his sexual assault convictions, saying: “I feel heard.”
She said the effect of what Elphicke did meant she had a “significantly increased sense of caution” when coming into contact with men she did not know.
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