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| Rape victim says Tory MP inquiry was 'a sham' | Rape victim says Tory MP inquiry was 'a sham' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A ministerial inquiry clearing former Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns of misconduct over the "sabotage" of a rape trial by his former aide has been dismissed as "a sham" by the victim. | |
| "Lucy" told BBC News she had not been contacted during the investigation. | "Lucy" told BBC News she had not been contacted during the investigation. |
| Mr Cairns resigned from the cabinet last year over allegations he knew Ross England had broken a judge's ruling by making claims about her sexual history. | Mr Cairns resigned from the cabinet last year over allegations he knew Ross England had broken a judge's ruling by making claims about her sexual history. |
| The Tory MP said he was "extremely sorry for the trauma" she had faced. | The Tory MP said he was "extremely sorry for the trauma" she had faced. |
| The Cabinet Office, which carried out the inquiry, has declined to comment. | |
| 'Brazen lies' | 'Brazen lies' |
| In April 2018, at the trial of his friend James Hackett, who had raped Lucy, Mr England told Cardiff Crown Court he had had a casual sexual relationship with her himself. | In April 2018, at the trial of his friend James Hackett, who had raped Lucy, Mr England told Cardiff Crown Court he had had a casual sexual relationship with her himself. |
| He said: "I was worried about her because we'd had casual sex on... two occasions, one of which was group sex." | He said: "I was worried about her because we'd had casual sex on... two occasions, one of which was group sex." |
| This evidence was not permissible in court, although Mr England denies knowing this when he gave evidence. | This evidence was not permissible in court, although Mr England denies knowing this when he gave evidence. |
| The judge said he had no doubt this had been a deliberate attempt to sabotage the trial. | The judge said he had no doubt this had been a deliberate attempt to sabotage the trial. |
| Lucy told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme: "He just lied so brazenly and I just thought, 'This man feels like he's untouchable and he was made to feel like that by the Conservative Party.'" | Lucy told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme: "He just lied so brazenly and I just thought, 'This man feels like he's untouchable and he was made to feel like that by the Conservative Party.'" |
| Mr England has since said in a statement he had not been told "that anything had been ruled inadmissible prior to my testimony". | Mr England has since said in a statement he had not been told "that anything had been ruled inadmissible prior to my testimony". |
| "I gave an honest answer, honouring the oath I took to tell the truth," he added. | "I gave an honest answer, honouring the oath I took to tell the truth," he added. |
| Mr Cairns resigned as Welsh secretary last November over claims he had endorsed Mr England as a candidate for the Welsh assembly despite knowing he had collapsed the trial. | Mr Cairns resigned as Welsh secretary last November over claims he had endorsed Mr England as a candidate for the Welsh assembly despite knowing he had collapsed the trial. |
| Mr Cairns denies he knew about it. | Mr Cairns denies he knew about it. |
| BBC News had discovered an email sent on 2 August 2018 to Mr Cairns by Geraint Evans, his special adviser. | BBC News had discovered an email sent on 2 August 2018 to Mr Cairns by Geraint Evans, his special adviser. |
| It said: "I have spoken to Ross and he is confident no action will be taken by the court." | It said: "I have spoken to Ross and he is confident no action will be taken by the court." |
| Mr Cairns has since been cleared of breaking the ministerial code, by a government investigation. | Mr Cairns has since been cleared of breaking the ministerial code, by a government investigation. |
| The investigator explained those involved said they had not informed Mr Cairns of Mr England's role and there was "no direct evidence to contradict this". | The investigator explained those involved said they had not informed Mr Cairns of Mr England's role and there was "no direct evidence to contradict this". |
| But Lucy told Victoria Derbyshire no attempt had been made to speak to her. | But Lucy told Victoria Derbyshire no attempt had been made to speak to her. |
| "The whole thing feels like a sham," she said. | "The whole thing feels like a sham," she said. |
| "What kind of investigation doesn't contact the person who is most affected?" | "What kind of investigation doesn't contact the person who is most affected?" |
| It is understood the Cabinet Office did not feel it was necessary or appropriate to contact Lucy. | |
| 'Smear campaign' | 'Smear campaign' |
| Mr Cairns had previously appointed Mr England to work as his campaign manager, in the same office as Lucy - who also worked for the MP. | Mr Cairns had previously appointed Mr England to work as his campaign manager, in the same office as Lucy - who also worked for the MP. |
| She claimed she warned Mr Cairns she would leave her job if he appointed Mr England. | She claimed she warned Mr Cairns she would leave her job if he appointed Mr England. |
| Lucy told the BBC as soon as she reported the rape to police she had been subjected to a "campaign of hatred" from members of the Tory Party, for having "the gall to tell the police what happened". | Lucy told the BBC as soon as she reported the rape to police she had been subjected to a "campaign of hatred" from members of the Tory Party, for having "the gall to tell the police what happened". |
| She was raped as she slept at a house party held by Mr England and his girlfriend Kathryn Kelloway. | She was raped as she slept at a house party held by Mr England and his girlfriend Kathryn Kelloway. |
| "When I woke up I was being attacked, basically," she told Victoria Derbyshire. | "When I woke up I was being attacked, basically," she told Victoria Derbyshire. |
| "Eventually, I managed to fight him off and run downstairs, where I told a friend." | "Eventually, I managed to fight him off and run downstairs, where I told a friend." |
| Hackett was convicted at a subsequent trial and jailed for five years. | Hackett was convicted at a subsequent trial and jailed for five years. |
| Lucy alleges that on the night of the rape, Ms Kelloway had shouted at police that she was making it up. | Lucy alleges that on the night of the rape, Ms Kelloway had shouted at police that she was making it up. |
| "That just set the tone for the next two years," she told the programme. | "That just set the tone for the next two years," she told the programme. |
| "It was a complete smear campaign. | "It was a complete smear campaign. |
| "They were trying to spread it, about certain people that I'd slept with and therefore if I slept around to this degree, then I must have deserved what happened. | "They were trying to spread it, about certain people that I'd slept with and therefore if I slept around to this degree, then I must have deserved what happened. |
| "They were trying to say I'd lied about other things, I've made stuff up about other women, and therefore if I can make that up, I must be making this up." | "They were trying to say I'd lied about other things, I've made stuff up about other women, and therefore if I can make that up, I must be making this up." |
| Ms Kelloway, a Conservative councillor, denied "any wrongdoing whatsoever". | |
| "I have told nothing but the truth throughout, including to the police and in court [as a prosecution witness]," she added. | "I have told nothing but the truth throughout, including to the police and in court [as a prosecution witness]," she added. |
| 'Extremely sorry' | 'Extremely sorry' |
| Lucy told Victoria Derbyshire the Conservative Party had a lot of work to do to make it a safe environment for young women to work in. | Lucy told Victoria Derbyshire the Conservative Party had a lot of work to do to make it a safe environment for young women to work in. |
| "They just didn't have any respect for me, what I was going through," she said. | "They just didn't have any respect for me, what I was going through," she said. |
| "It definitely felt like members of Conservative Party were putting me on trial." | "It definitely felt like members of Conservative Party were putting me on trial." |
| The Conservative Party in Wales said in a statement: "We are deeply sorry for the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the trial and the deep distress this must have caused the victim." | The Conservative Party in Wales said in a statement: "We are deeply sorry for the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the trial and the deep distress this must have caused the victim." |
| Mr Cairns said he was "extremely sorry for the trauma and suffering Lucy has faced". | Mr Cairns said he was "extremely sorry for the trauma and suffering Lucy has faced". |
| "I believed that my parliamentary staff and I had supported her in a caring and compassionate way throughout," he said. | "I believed that my parliamentary staff and I had supported her in a caring and compassionate way throughout," he said. |
| "Lucy recognised this in messages received at the time." | "Lucy recognised this in messages received at the time." |
| Follow the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Facebook and Twitter - and see more of our stories here. | Follow the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Facebook and Twitter - and see more of our stories here. |