Chris Pincher: Fresh sex assault claims about suspended Tamworth MP

Further allegations of sexual assault have been made against MP and former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher.

Conservative councillor Daniel Cook told Channel 4 News Mr Pincher, who has been suspended by the Tory party, had groped him in 2005 and 2006.

Mr Cook, deputy mayor at Tamworth council in Staffordshire, where Mr Pincher is an MP, said he had lodged a complaint with the Conservative Party.

The BBC understands that Mr Pincher strongly denies any such conduct.

He also said Mr Cook had never raised it with him.

Former council leader Mr Cook, who waived his anonymity for his interview, said he felt angry at what had happened and wanted Mr Pincher expelled from the Tory party.

Allegations emerged last week that Mr Pincher was alleged to have groped two men in a private members' club, which led to his suspension.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson then faced questions from within his own party about what he knew and his handling of the allegations.

He apologised on Tuesday for appointing Mr Pincher to the government role, admitting he had been told about a complaint in 2019 and saying he had made a "bad mistake".

That triggered a swathe of resignations in government including former health secretary Sajid Javid and chancellor Rishi Sunak minutes after the prime minister's statement.

Boris Johnson has now announced his resignation as Conservative leader.

Mr Pincher is facing a string of claims of inappropriate behaviour stretching back several years, which he has denied.

Two police forces investigated two allegations of sexual assault by a man believed to be Mr Pincher - one in London between 2010 and 2012, and another in Staffordshire in May 2019.

Neither investigation resulted in any action and Mr Pincher denies the allegations.

Mr Cook said he had met Mr Pincher when he had first started in politics as a council candidate in Tamworth for the 2004 elections aged about 28.

He campaigned with Mr Pincher, among others, and Mr Cook said the parliamentary candidate had taken him under his wing.

The councillor told Channel 4 Mr Pincher had been drunk on both occasions when he had been assaulted.

Mr Cook said that in 2005, while his wife had been at work, Mr Pincher had come to his house with a council colleague and had "cupped his hand around my genitals" and had then asked if he had any "good porn".

A year later, he said, Mr Pincher had again gone round to his house "stinking drunk", had cupped him again and grabbed him from behind.

Mr Pincher made reference to his fellow Conservative being "a rising star" of politics in Tamworth, the councillor said.

Mr Cook said he had reacted the first time by laughing it off and pushing him away, but the second time had thrown him against a fridge and physically thrown him out of his house, watching him stagger down his drive.

He said he felt angry about what had happened and had come forward after other allegations had been made.

Mr Cook added if he had spoken out at the time, the matter could have been dealt with sooner.

A spokesperson for the Conservative Party said: "Mr Pincher's membership of the Conservative Party has been suspended pending investigation."

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