Hamilton accuser questioned by police for second time

The woman who claims to have been sexually assaulted by Neil and Christine Hamilton was questioned again by police today.

Nadine Milroy-Sloan, 27, spent some six hours being interviewed at Barkingside police station in east London.

Officers tonight said they were continuing to investigate her allegations that the former Conservative minister and his wife sexually degraded her while another man raped her.

Speculation had been mounting that the police inquiries would be shelved after a call, alleged to exonerate the couple, was traced to Mrs Hamilton’s mobile phone.

The attack was said to have taken place in a flat in Ilford on May 5 at around 5pm - but the phone call placed Mrs Hamilton’s mobile 13 miles away at around 5.40pm.

Mr Hamilton claimed he and his wife were "wholly vindicated" after detectives traced the call.

But a Scotland Yard spokeswoman said tonight: "The investigation goes on and inquiries continue."

Mr Hamilton said the call had been made by his wife to her mother Megan.

He said: ‘‘She called her at around 5.44pm when we were on our way from our flat in Battersea to Claridges.

"It was probably just after we got into the car from the flat.

"There is absolutely no excuse for the police to delay this investigation, or at least our part in it, for a moment longer.

"There is also no reason for them to keep hold of our property any longer, especially our computer."

He again hinted that, in the long term, he was considering legal action against the police.

"I will be speaking to my solicitor later today about what action to take against the police and any further delay will only result in me being less lenient towards them," he said.

Ms Milroy-Sloan has now followed the Hamiltons into the public spotlight, insisting she has "nothing to hide".

She went on the offensive by waiving her right to anonymity at the weekend and telling a Sunday newspaper: "I am prepared to stand up and be counted."

But both she and the Hamiltons were criticised by Norman Brennan, director of the Victims of Crime Trust, for encouraging trial by media.

He said the case had turned into a "pantomime" and it would discourage rape victims from reporting allegations in the future.

Mr Brennan said: "I condemn both Nadine Milroy-Sloan and the Hamiltons who, in my opinion, have treated this matter like a pantomime rather than the serious allegation that it is.

"It is perceived that each party in this case has made tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of pounds for their stories from the British media before any charges have been considered.

"It’s already very difficult to encourage rape victims to come forward and report the crime and this case will only discourage victims further.

"For the protection of future rape victims, I urge both the Hamiltons and Nadine Milroy-Sloan to shut up and allow the police to do their job and allow this to run its course like every other case."