Tory councillor referred to police over sex claim

Matthew Binley was removed from Conservative group on North Northamptonshire Council last week

A councillor has been reported to police after he allegedly admitted to colleagues a historical sexual claim made against him.

The leader of the Conservative group at North Northamptonshire Council confirmed he had made a referral in relation to Matthew Binley.

A newspaper has already reported that Binley admitted the nature of the allegation at a private meeting of Tory colleagues last week.

Binley did not respond to the BBC in relation to the claim but said police "fully investigated" and closed the case in 2009.

The 41-year-old served with Northamptonshire Police when the original allegation was made.

He said the force had since confirmed in writing to him that no new evidence had been provided.

Jason Smithers said he had contacted the Northamptonshire chief constable

Jason Smithers, who is council leader as well as Tory group leader, said he made contact with the chief constable over the matter on 21 January and again on 6 February.

"Our established procedure requires that any admission of a criminal offence be reported to the appropriate police force for investigation," said Smithers.

Binley was expelled from the Conservative group at the private meeting on 5 February and currently sits as an independent.

He is also suspended from the wider Conservative Party.

The allegation was investigated at the time but the Crown Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence to charge him.

Binley was suspended from the police and the force's professional standards department started an inquiry.

However, this was discontinued after Binley resigned.

The law changed in 2017, whereby misconduct action against officers continues even if they have resigned or retired.

'Fully investigated'

Binley is the son of the late Brian Binley, the former Conservative MP for Northampton South.

He has represented Wellingborough's Brickhill and Queensway ward at the council since 2021.

In a statement to the BBC, Binley said: "These allegations were fully investigated by the appropriate authorities at the time.

"Following a comprehensive investigation, the matter was concluded with no further action taken.

"There is no ongoing investigation."

He said that nothing had been reported "that would alter their previous decision to take no further action".

Northamptonshire Police confirmed one of its officers had reached out to Smithers after he made initial contact with the force.

"Councillor Smithers has since provided the force with information of which he was in receipt," it said.

"Mr Binley had previously been the subject of criminal investigations and, as such, evidence was gathered and placed before the CPS who advised no further action."