Charlie Elphicke: Tory MP charged with sexual assault

Charlie Elphicke Image copyright PA
Image caption Charlie Elphicke has been charged with three counts of sexual assault against two women

A Conservative MP has been charged with sexually assaulting two women.

Charlie Elphicke, the MP for Dover and Deal, is alleged to have assaulted one woman in 2007 and a second woman twice in 2016.

Mr Elphicke, 48, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 6 September.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said it had made the decision to charge Mr Elphicke "after reviewing a file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police".

Mr Elphicke was suspended from the party in November 2017 after "serious allegations" against him were referred to police.

But he had the whip reinstated in December 2018 for a vote of confidence in Theresa May.

Mr Elphicke, who has represented his constituency since 2010, has repeatedly denied any "criminal wrongdoing" over the past two years.