Tory MP Imran Ahmad Khan faces trial for alleged sexual assault of a teenager

It has now become known that a Tory MP is on trial. He is accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy in 2008.

Imran Ahmad Khan, 47, Conservative MP for Wakefield in West Yorkshire, said he “strongly denies” allegations that he groped the teenager in Staffordshire.

Ahmad Khan, who was elected in the 2019 general election, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday via video link from his lawyer’s office.

His name could be announced on Friday after reporting restrictions are lifted.

Ahmad Khan, of Wakefield, faces a single count of sexually abusing the teenager in 2008. The teenager cannot be identified as he is believed to be the victim of a sexual offence.

The charge, read out in court, states: “In the county of Staffordshire, you intentionally touched a 15-year-old boy. This touching was sexual although he had not consented and you could not reasonably have assumed that he had consented. This is contrary to section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.”

When asked to enter a plea to the charge, Ahmad Khan, represented by Sallie Bennett-Jenkins QC, said: “Not guilty.”

In a statement released on Friday, Ahmad Khan said: “It is true that an allegation has been made against me.

“I would like to make it clear right from the start that I strongly reject this accusation, which is more than 13 years old.

“This matter concerns me deeply and I obviously take it extremely seriously.

“Being accused of doing something I did not do is shocking, destabilizing and traumatic. I am innocent.”

“Those who, like me, are falsely accused of such acts find themselves in the difficult position of having to endure damaging and painful speculation until the case is closed.

“I request privacy while I work to clear my name.”

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said the case was not suitable for trial in the Magistrates’ Court and referred it to the Old Bailey.

He told Ahmad Khan: “You must appear before the Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey, at 9.30am on July 15. You will be granted unconditional bail until then.”

“If you fail to appear on this occasion, you may be committing a criminal offence unless there is a very good reason for doing so.”

“Do you understand that?”

Ahmad Khan replied: “I do.”

According to his website, the MP was born in Wakefield, where he attended the independent Silcoates School before going on to study at the Pushkin Institute in Russia and completing a bachelor’s degree in war studies at King’s College, London.

Before joining Parliament, he worked for the United Nations as a Special Assistant for Political Affairs in Mogadishu.

The prosecution service said it had made the decision to prosecute after reviewing a file of evidence from Staffordshire Police.

Rosemary Ainslie of the CPS stressed the need for a fair trial, saying: “It is vital that no reports, comments or information are shared online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”