Police probe Prescott ‘office sex’ claim

SCOTLAND Yard confirmed tonight it is looking into a complaint that Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott broke the law by allegedly having sex with his secretary in his Whitehall office.

The formal complaint — in letter form — was sent to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair by Glaswegian Alistair Watson.

Mr Watson, a retired police officer, cited the case of a Greater Manchester police officer who was sentenced to 200 hours’ community service after he had sex with a woman three times while he was on duty.

Scotland Yard said tonight in a statement: “We can confirm we have now received the letter alleging ‘misconduct in public office’ and are considering its content.”

According to Mr Prescott’s mistress, Tracey Temple, she and the Deputy Prime Minister had sex at his Whitehall office while they were supposed to be working.

Extracts of Mr Watson’s letter, which appeared in the Sunday Times, said: “I think in the interest of equality and justice, there is no reason why Mr Prescott and Miss Temple cannot be prosecuted.

“This is not a malicious thing. If there are rules that apply to ordinary people, somebody like John Prescott should be treated the same, or more harshly.”

Mr Prescott survived last week’s brutal British Cabinet reshuffle.

But, although he managed to hang on to his title, grace-and-favour homes and salary, he has been stripped of the responsibilities of his department.