2001 Hamiltons condemn ‘sex assault’ arrest

Former Conservative MP Neil Hamilton and wife Christine have strenuously denied allegations they carried out a serious sexual assault.

The couple have been released “pending further investigations” following five hours of questioning at Barkingside police station in Essex.

Speaking to the press after their release the Hamiltons called the allegations a “monstrous fabrication”.

The Hamiltons’ solicitor, Michael Coleman, said they had been questioned over accusations they had carried out indecent acts on a woman who was being raped in Ilford in May.

The Hamiltons had co-operated fully with the police and given details about their whereabouts on the night of the alleged offences, Mr Coleman added.

Neil Hamilton, 52, said: “There is no truth whatsoever in the allegations that have been made against me and my wife.”

Christine Hamilton described the experience as “ghastly and humiliating” and said she did not expect charges to be brought.

“The whole thing is just nonsense on stilts,” she said.

Mr and Mrs Hamilton condemned the alleged involvement in the affair of public relations consultant Max Clifford.

“The whole thing is a total fabrication and a lie and the fact that Max Clifford’s name has been put to us by the police is no surprise whatsoever,” said Mrs Hamilton.

The couple appeared on the steps of Barkingside police station with TV presenter Louis Theroux, who is making a programme about them.

The former MP was recently declared bankrupt after he lost a libel action against Harrods owner Mohammed Al Fayed over the so-called “cash for questions” affair.

He lost his seat in the 1997 general election to former BBC correspondent Martin Bell who ran against him on an anti-corruption ticket.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

The Hamiltons’ accuser, Nadine Milroy-Sloan, 28, waived her right to anonymity after she was paid £5,000 for an interview by a Sunday newspaper.

After nearly three weeks of investigations the Hamiltons were cleared as suspects by police.

The case against another man named by Ms Milroy-Sloan, Barry Lehaney, was also later dropped.

The Hamiltons began a libel action against their accuser whose assets were frozen by the High Court.

Ms Milroy-Sloan – a mother-of-four from Grimsby in Lincolnshire – was prosecuted for perverting the course of justice.

In May 2003 she was found guilty and the following month was sentenced to three years imprisonment.