Ex Tory minister sexually and physically abused wife who later succeeded him as MP

An ex Conservative minister sexually and physically abused his wife, a family judge has found.

Andrew Griffiths, 51, was found to have pressurised Kate Griffiths, into engaging in sexual activity.

Kate Griffiths succeeded her ex husband as the Conservative candidate for Burton in 2019, having in effect won the local party’s nomination from her now ex-husband.

Andrew Griffiths, who was minister for small business from January to July 2018, served as the MP for Burton between 2010 and 2019, but temporarily lost the party whip after it was reported that he had sent a large number of explicit text messages to two female constituents back in 2018.

Mr Griffiths, was found to have used “coercive and controlling behaviour”, and of having raped and physically abused his then wife over a period of nearly a decade.

The ex-MP denied Ms Griffiths allegations and “adamantly denied” rape.

The allegations were made against Mr Griffiths during a family court hearing in which the overseeing Judge was asked to make findings of fact.

Although family court hearings are not usually made public, High Court judge ruled that the hearing’s findings ought to be be revealed, after the Press Association and Tortoise Media argued that they were in the public interest.

Ms Griffiths agreed to be named in media reports despite her right to anonymity as a sexual abuse victim.

She said she did so as: “I recognise the unique position I am in to campaign to improve the outcomes of cases such as this, for those who endure domestic violence, and the actions taken to protect the children involved”.

Mr Griffiths has since said in a statement: “I am deeply disappointed that the Court of Appeal has allowed the publication of proceedings in the family court.

“Whilst there remain legal constraints on what I can say, because the entirety of the judgment has not been published, I strongly denied the allegations put to me. However, the family court, which I believed to be private, made findings against me on the balance of probabilities.”

He said he had wishes  to protect the former couple’s child from publicity and that he aimed to “repair the damage that publication of this case has caused”.