I'll see you in court, says woman at centre of Hamilton rape allegation

The woman who alleges she was raped while Neil and Christine Hamilton sexually assaulted her issued a statement yesterday saying she was confident charges would be brought and the case would go to court.

While the Hamiltons claimed they could account for "every minute" of the day on which the woman says she was raped, John Bridge, her solicitor, said the alleged victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, stood by her claims.

During a brief press conference in Grimsby, where the woman lives, Mr Bridge said: "Many allegations have been made about my client over the last few days. The majority of those allegations are baseless and whilst there is a natural tendency to defend one's self against such vile slurs, my client realises that, ultimately, she must save her account until it is given and tested in court.

"My client has given a full account of the evening in question to the police. She will continue to co-operate with them and she is confident that the police will investigate the matter thoroughly and in due course the case will proceed to trial."

The Hamiltons, who have been questioned by police over the alleged incident at a flat in Ilford, east London, in May, said in an interview on GMTV that a new witness had given them "incontrovertible proof" they were not involved in the alleged attack. Mr Hamilton said the witness had reminded them they were in the bar at Claridge's Hotel for part of the day, while nine other witnesses could account for "every minute" of the rest of the day.

"This woman is lying and the police should be pursuing her," he said. "I'm getting more and more outraged that this woman is persisting in these ridiculous allegations and the police appear to be taking them seriously."

The solicitor representing the third person named in the woman's claims said his client denied the allegations. Nick Freeman, representing Barry Lehaney, said his client had never met the Hamiltons and they had never visited his flat.