Nigel Evans Questions Accusers' Right To Anonymity After Sexual Offences Trial

Nigel Evans Questions Accusers' Right To Anonymity

Former deputy speaker Nigel Evans has said the anonymity given to those who accused him of sexual offences meant they could "throw muck" without facing the same publicity as he did and has asked MPs to investigate his case.

Mr Evans said he felt like he was "being hit by an Eddie Stobart truck when I woke up in the morning and several times during the day" in the 11 months between his arrest and acquittal of a raft of sexual offences.

The law grants complainants in cases of sexual offences a life-time right to anonymity which those accused of them do not have.

Speaking on Radio Four's Today Programme, Mr Evans said this had allowed his accusers to "throw muck" without facing the intense public scrutiny he did.

He added he had asked Parliament's Home Affairs Select Committee and its chairman Keith Vaz to conduct an inquiry into the issue.

Nigel Evans said his accusers had been able to "throw muck" at him while remaining anonymous

He added: "The people who threw muck remain anonymous to this day. I was put into in the full glare of world publicity. From day one, there were photographers. I was eight minutes every half-hour on rolling news. Those throwing the muck remain completely anonymous.

"This is something that needs to be looked at, and I hope that Keith Vaz and his committee among many other things just look at the issue of anonymity."

Presenter Sarah Montague put it to him that his trial had shone a light on his "inappropriate behavior" with young men, which he said was "totally untrue".

"I don't accept that," he said. "I don't recognise a lot that has been written about me quite frankly."

He said the prosecution had "thrown everything including the kitchen sink at me" during his trial.

He said: "It's something I'm doing to have to live with. I now want to rebuild my political career. I want to get back to that.

"I had given up the deputy speakership and I don't seek to get that back although Eleanor Laing and all the other candidates for the deputy speakership vacancy, which arose when I stood down, said that they would be prepared to stand aside themselves, but I am not seeking that."

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