Met drops rape case against Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell

Andrew Rosindell has been banned from the Parliamentary estate. Photo: UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP EDITORIAL/UNIVERSAL HISTORY ARCHIVE

A Conservative MP who was arrested on charges of rape, sexual assault and misconduct in public office will face no further action from the Metropolitan Police.

Andrew Rosindell, MP for Romford, was arrested in May 2022. The alleged crimes were alleged to have occurred between 2002 and 2009.

He was banned from the Parliamentary Estate and could not speak in the House of Commons or vote while the investigation was underway.

In a statement, the Met Police said that after a “thorough investigation” the evidentiary threshold for a criminal offense was not met.

A spokesman for Mr Rosindell said: “Andrew has been fully exonerated. He has worked consistently for Romford over the last 21 months and will continue to protect the people of his beloved home town as the local MP.»

Andrew Rosindell with Margaret Thatcher and Norman Tebbit at Romford Greyhound Stadium in 2005. Mr Rosindell was first elected in 2001. Picture: Eddie Mulholland

Mr Rosindell, who was first elected in 2001 and was shadow home secretary from 2007 to 2010, is understood to have been told on Sunday that no further action would be taken.

A Met Police spokesman said: “In January 2020, the Met received a report relating to alleged sexual assault offenses committed in London between 2002 and 2009.

“A man in his 50s was arrested in May 2022 on suspicion of indecent assault, sexual assault, rape, breach of trust and misconduct in public office.

“Detectives have carried out a thorough investigation. They concluded the evidence did not meet the threshold set by crown prosecutors. The man was informed that no further action would be taken against him.”