MP accused of sexually assaulting a teenager suspended by conservatives

A suspended Tory MP is facing trial accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in 2008, it can be revealed.

Imran Ahmad Khan, 47, who represents Wakefield in West Yorkshire, denied “in the strongest terms” the allegation that he groped the teenager from Staffordshire.

Ahmad Khan helped Boris Johnson win a large majority in the Commons, taking the constituency in the so-called “red wall” that formed Labour’s heartland in the Midlands and northern England.

The Conservatives said the whip had been suspended from Ahmad Khan, meaning he will sit as an independent in the Commons, after reporting that restrictions preventing his identification had been lifted on Friday.

The deputy faces a single charge of sexual assault against the then-teenager, who cannot be identified because she is an alleged victim of a sex crime, in 2008.

Ahmad Khan, who is from Wakefield and was first elected in the 2019 general election, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday via video link from his solicitors’ office.

Asked to indicate a plea to the charge, he replied: “Not guilty.”

In a later statement, Ahmad Khan added: “Let me state at the outset that the allegation, which is over 13 years old, is rejected in the strongest possible terms.

“This matter is deeply troubling to me, and of course I take it extremely seriously.

“Being accused of doing something I didn’t do is shocking, destabilizing and traumatic. I am innocent.

“Those, like myself, who are falsely accused of such actions find themselves in the difficult position of having to endure hurtful and damaging speculation until the case is over.

“I request privacy while I work to clear my name.”

Ahmad Khan was granted unconditional bail ahead of his appearance at the Old Bailey on July 15.

He took the Wakefield constituency at the last general election from Mary Creagh, overturning the senior Labor MP’s 2,000-vote majority in the seat she had held since 2005.

The loss of Ahmad Khan from the parliamentary party is unlikely to significantly reduce the prime minister’s power in the Commons, as he still holds a comfortable working majority of more than 80 people.

But Mr Johnson has faced significant backlash to legislate for coronavirus restrictions, with the blushes of defeat only saved by Labor not opposing the measures.

A spokeswoman for the Conservative whip’s office said: “Imran Ahmad Khan’s whip has been suspended. As there is an ongoing lawsuit, we will not comment further.”

It is understood the suspension was issued when boss Mark Spencer was informed of the allegations.

Ahmad Khan was said to have been absent from the parliamentary estate since the charge was brought and was not expected to return while the case was ongoing.

The charge, which was read out in court, said: “In the county of Staffordshire, you willfully touched a 15-year-old boy and that the touching was sexual when he did not consent and you did not reasonably believe that it was agreement, contrary to Section 3. of the Sexual Offenses Act 2003.”

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said the case was not suitable for trial in the court of law and referred the case to the Old Bailey.

According to his website, the MP was born in Wakefield, where he attended Silcoates Independent School before going to university at the Pushkin Institute in Russia and graduating from King’s College London with a BA in War Studies.

Before entering Parliament, he worked for the United Nations as a special assistant for political affairs in Mogadishu.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it made the decision to charge after reviewing a file of evidence from Staffordshire Police.

Stressing the need for a fair trial, Rosemary Ainslie of the CPS said: “It is extremely important that there are no reports, comments or exchanges of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”