UK police probing Lib Dem MP on ’seduction’ charge

LONDON - Police are investigating a senior Liberal Democrat lawmaker for reportedly trying to seduce a vulnerable female constituent.

The 36-year-old single mother reportedly approached Mike Hancock, MP for Portsmouth South, with problems about noisy neighbours and inadequacies in her healthcare.

Over a number of months, the married politician took the woman to dinner, bought her gifts, including perfume, clothes and a teddy bear, and sent her intimate text messages, the Sunday Times reports.

In a number of letters, Hancock wrote on behalf of his constituent, her mental health problems were freely acknowledged, the Mirror quoted the newspaper, as adding.

Detectives were said to be alerted by the unnamed woman’s family support worker.

Hancock was unavailable for immediate comment.

He told the newspaper that “under no circumstances” had any sexual activity taken place between them but he had taken her out to dinner and bought her gifts “to cheer her up”.

“It would be a very sad day indeed where MPs cannot act in a holistic and friendly way that helps their constituents,” he added.

A Hampshire Police spokeswoman confirmed officers had launched an investigation after they received a complaint. (ANI)