Beckenham’s MP is under investigation by the parliamentary watchdog after writing a character reference in support of a former colleague found guilty of sexual offences. 

Colonel Bob Stewart is one of five MPs who wrote to the judge overseeing the trial of Charlie Elphicke, who was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault against two women last year.

Writing on House of Commons notepaper after the verdict, Mr Stewart said Elphicke's sentence should take into account his hard work as an MP, and described his crimes as "folly".

News Shopper: Charlie Elphicke with his ex-wife

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has revealed all five MPs are under investigation for ‘actions causing significant damage to the reputation of the House as a whole, or of its Members generally’ and ‘use of facilities (stationary) provided by the public purse.’

Former MP Charlie Elphicke was sentenced in September 2020 to two years in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting two women.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, currently Kathryn Stone, is an independent officer of the House of Commons who investigates allegations that MPs have breached their code of conduct.

They have powers that can lead to suspensions of MPs or even byelections if serious breaches have occurred.

The other MPs under investigation for the same breaches are Sir Roger Gale, Adam Holloway and Theresa Villiers and Elphicke’s ex-wife Natalie Elphicke, who took over his Dover seat in 2019.

They were referred to the commissioner by Labour MP Helen Hayes.

The group were rebuked by senior judges for last year for seeking to exert “improper” influence before Elphicke was sentenced.

The first offence took place in Elphicke’s London home in summer 2007, when he invited a woman in her early 30s to share a drink with him while his children were asleep, and his wife was away with work.

The woman said Elphicke asked her about bondage and sex, then kissed her and groped her breast before chasing her around his home chanting “I’m a naughty Tory.”

The second complainant, a parliamentary worker in her early 20s, said Elphicke also tried to kiss her and then groped her when they met for a drink in Westminster in April 2016.