MP Nigel Evans faces further indecent assault allegations

Nigel Evans has stepped aside as Deputy Speaker while investigations continue

House of Commons Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans has been arrested on suspicion of indecent assault and sexual touching of two further alleged victims.

The 55-year-old Ribble Valley MP had previously been arrested by Lancashire Police on suspicion of rape, sexual assault and three indecent assaults.

The new offences are alleged to have been committed in London between 2002 and 2009.

The Conservative MP has denied any wrongdoing.

He now faces seven sexual assault allegations but has yet to be charged.

The original rape and sexual assault allegations, made in May this year, are understood to relate to alleged incidents in Pendleton, Lancashire, between July 2009 and March 2013.

Three further indecent assault allegations emerged the following month and are claimed to have occurred in Blackpool and London between 2003 and 2011.

All these allegations involve men in their 20s.

Office searched

In a statement on Tuesday, Lancashire Police said: "He [Mr Evans] has subsequently today been arrested on suspicion of indecent assault and sexual touching of two further victims.

"He will be interviewed about these new allegations at a police station in Lancashire during the course of the day.

"These new offences are alleged to have been committed in London between 2002 and 2009."

Mr Evans arrived at Preston police station just before 0900 BST, accompanied by his solicitor.

He smiled and said "thanks for coming" to members of the press who had gathered outside.

Mr Evans was met inside the station by detectives waiting to question him.

In May, Mr Evans dismissed the original allegations against him as "completely false", and said they had been made by two people he had "regarded as friends".

Elected as one of three Commons Deputy Speakers in 2010, he has stepped aside from his duties in that role since his arrest, but has continued to work as an MP.

Police investigating the original allegations searched Mr Evans' Commons office in May.

Commons Speaker John Bercow said he had consulted the attorney general and the solicitor general before granting the police's request and had also sought the advice of the clerk of the House, who advises the Speaker on procedure and parliamentary privilege.