Met Police: Tory MP’s bail extended again in rape case

Magistrates have now given the Metropolitan Police Service permission to keep the politician on bail until mid-February 2024.

The man was first arrested almost 16 months ago, on May 17, 2022.

He cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The Met’s Central Specialist Crime Team is handling the investigation, which began when the force was approached in January 2020 over “alleged sexual offences”.

The man was arrested last year on suspicion of rape, sexual assault, indecent assault, abuse of a position of trust and misconduct in a public office.

All of the alleged offences are said to have occurred in London between 2002 and 2009.

After his initial arrest, the man was released on police bail, to return a month later.

However, his bail has since been extended six times – first to August 2022, then November, then February 2023, then May, then August, and now to February 2024.

The Met Police said: “An extension to his bail was sought at magistrates’ court. This was granted and he now returns on a date in mid-February 2024.”