Former Tory Minister Andrew Griffiths Raped His Wife, Family Court Finds
The former MP Andrew Griffiths has been found to have abused his ex-wife by a family court judge (Alamy)
2 min read
The disgraced former Conservative minister Andrew Griffiths was found by a court to have raped and physically abused his wife.
The judgement details how the 51-year-old, who stood down from Parliament in 2019, pressurised Kate Griffiths, who succeeded him as the Tory MP for Burton-upon-Trent, into engaging in sexual activity and that he used "coercive and controlling behaviour".
Details of a private trial in the family court last year can now be made public after a campaign by media organisations with the support of Kate Griffiths.
Andrew Griffiths has denied the allegations made against him and “adamantly denied” rape, and had fought to keep details of the case, which was heard in November 2020, out of the public domain.
First elected in 2010, he had worked as Theresa May's chief of staff before becoming the minister for small business, but resigned in July 2018 after it was reported he sent thousands of "depraved" text messages to two female constituents.
Today’s findings are the result of a hearing in a Derby courtroom last year centred on a dispute between the pair, who are now divorced, over access to a child.
The judge made findings in favour of Kate Griffiths after she made a series of allegations against her ex-husband, but decided they should not be made public, in order to protect the child.
A more senior High Court judge then ruled the judgment should be unsealed after an application by two journalists, but Andrew Griffiths asked the Court of Appeal to reconsider.
But today three appeal judges dismissed his request, allowing the original findings to now be reported.
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