The BBC reports from Southampton Magistrates Court:
A Liberal Democrat MP has described allegations he was a paedophile as “absolutely untrue and offensive”.
Mike Hancock told Southampton Magistrates’ Court he was “horrified” by a leaflet published during last year’s general election.
The court heard Les Cummings, who was standing against the MP, had written: “Mike Hancock is a paedophile”.
He denies making a false statement with the purpose of affecting the result of the election in Portsmouth South.
Mr Cummings, 66, from Portsmouth, is accused of publishing the leaflet last April, while he was standing against Mr Hancock as an independent for the Justice and Anti-Corruption Party.
Mr Hancock successfully took out an injunction banning the distribution of the leaflet and Mr Cummings was later arrested, the court heard.
Giving evidence Mr Hancock said: “I’m horrified that anyone could make it [the allegation].”
The trial continues.
Read the full piece at the BBC website.
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