Alun Cairns: Rape victim says inquiry into former Welsh secretary’s alleged lies about aide was ‘a sham’

Ex-cabinet minister was cleared of breaching the ministerial code – but victim reveals she was not asked to give evidence

A rape victim has attacked a “sham” investigation that cleared a former Tory cabinet minister of lying over his aide allegedly sabotaging her trial, revealing that she was not asked to give evidence.

The woman, who also worked for Alun Cairns – who dramatically quit as Welsh secretary in November – accused the Cabinet Office of wanting to “deflect” the controversy until the general election was out of the way.

Boris Johnson forced him out after the BBC revealed Mr Cairns had been told that evidence given by the aide, Ross England, led to the collapse of the case, after he had denied knowing.

Despite the controversy, however, the Conservatives allowed Mr Cairns to stand in the election, increasing his majority in his south Wales seat of Vale of Glamorgan.

And, one week later, he was cleared of breaching the ministerial code when the prime minister's adviser on standards concluded that he did not know the details of the case until they become public.

The rape victim told the BBC: “The whole thing feels like a sham. What kind of investigation doesn't contact the person who is most affected?

“It makes me question how seriously it was actually carried out. This was a deflection until after the general election, not a genuine investigation into Alun's truthfulness.”

She added: “I would have hoped Alun would have used the inquiry as an opportunity to be honest, and it's regretful that he did not. Fortunately, nobody with an ounce of common sense believes his ludicrous claim that he did not know.”

The woman claimed that Mr Cairns told her he thought she was “being a bit harsh” in pursuing the rape complaint against Mr England's friend, James Hackett, who was eventually found guilty of rape and jailed.

She also said she was subjected to a “smear campaign” by individuals inside the party who accused her of being a liar.

The BBC unearthed an email sent to Mr Cairns by a different adviser stating that he had spoken to Mr England and he was confident no further action would be taken against him for collapsing the trial.

The Cabinet Office inquiry concluded: “I find it unlikely that Mr Cairns would not have been told something about Mr England's role when he was told about the collapse.”

However, it added: “All those involved state that they had not informed Mr Cairns of Mr England's role, and there is no direct evidence to contradict this.

“On that basis, I do not find that the evidence upholds the allegations of a breach of the ministerial code.”

In a statement issued to the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire Show, Mr Cairns said he was “extremely sorry for the trauma and suffering” suffered by the victim, adding: “Rape is a heinous crime.

“I believed that my parliamentary staff and I had supported her in a caring and compassionate way throughout.”

The Cabinet Office declined to comment. A Welsh Conservative Party spokesman said: “Mr England has been suspended and a full investigation is under way.”