Tory minister steps down after bombarding two barmaids with explicit texts
3 min read
Married Tory MP Andrew Griffiths has quit his ministerial post after it was revealed he sent thousands of sexually explicit text messages to two barmaids.
According to the Sunday Mirror, the small business minister and former adviser to Theresa May sent Imogen Treharne and her friend increasingly lewd demands via social media, gave them £700 in cash and offered to rent a flat to meet them both for sex.
The new father reportedly asked the pair to reply with photos and videos of depraved and violent acts, described previous sexual encounters and referred to himself throughout the exchanges as “daddy”.
In a statement released late last night, Mr Griffifths said he was "ashamed" of his behaviour and would be "seeking professional help".
In one message, Mr Griffiths is said to have boasted of beating women in previous sex sessions and asked the pair to do the same.
He said: "I can be an evil ******* when I’m turned on."
He is also reported to have regularly made contact during working hours, close to important parliamentary votes and ahead of a meeting with Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.
Ms Treharne told the Mirror: "Nobody has ever sent me that many texts in the space of three weeks. Nobody I’ve not met in real life. I had to put my phone on its airplane mode because of it.
"It was draining my battery. It was shocking – I wondered how he was able to send so many messages?
"Where was he, how did he have the freedom to do it constantly? It was as soon as he woke up and as soon as he went to bed. How did he have time to do any work?"
She added: "I wanted him to be a nice guy, but by the end I felt dirty. I felt like I was being used for this wealthy man’s gratification."
The Burton and Uttoxeter MP is credited with setting up the Women2Win campaign, aimed at getting more women elected to parliament.
In his resignation letter Mr Griffiths wrote: "I am deeply ashamed at my behaviour which has caused untold distress to my wife and family, to whom I owe everything, and deep embarrassment to the Prime Minister and the Government I am so proud to serve.
He added: "Following discussions today with the Chief Whip I have referred myself to the Conservative Party’s Code of Conduct procedures. I entirely accept that pending this investigation it is right the Whip is withdrawn.
"I wish to apologise to my constituency association and to the people of Burton I am honoured to represent.
"I do not seek to excuse my behaviour and will be seeking professional help to ensure it never happens again.
"In time I hope to earn the forgiveness of all those who put their trust in me and that I have let down so terribly.
"The Prime Minister and the Government she leads will continue to have my full support.”
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