Hamilton case 'will go to trial'

The Hamiltons:"Investigation has taken its toll"

A lawyer for the woman accusing ex-Tory minister Neil Hamilton and his wife, Christine, of a serious sexual assault has said his client believes the case will go to trial.

John Bridge said she was "confident that the police will investigate the matter thoroughly and in due course the case will proceed to trial".

Earlier Mr and Mrs Hamilton said a new witness had come forward who proved that they could not have taken part in any sexual assault.

The 28-year-old woman claims the couple performed indecent acts on her at an Ilford flat, on 5 May, while a 60-year-old man raped her.

Publicist Max Clifford was told of the allegation by the woman

Mr Bridge told a press conference that the woman had first approached the police with her claims before contacting publicist Max Clifford.

He denied that Mr Clifford was acting as his client's agent and urged the media to respect the woman's privacy and the right to anonymity.

"Whilst there is a natural tendency to defend oneself against such vile slurs, my client realises that ultimately she must save her account until it is given and tested in court." Mr Bridge said.

The Hamiltons said an American friend had told police the couple had tea with him at Claridges Hotel in London on the day the alleged sexual assault took place.

They also provided a copy of a bill for groceries bought from a supermarket in central London on the day of the alleged attack, which they said was further proof of their innocence.

Angry exchanges

Mrs Hamilton broke down in tears as she told GMTV they had forgotten about the appointment because it had been such a last-minute meeting they had not entered it into their diary.

The Hamiltons also clashed angrily on television with Mr Clifford.

The publicist described the situation as "a pantomime", with the Hamiltons as Buttons and Widow Twanky.

"I've watched them carry on this pantomime for the last week. They obviously love it, they obviously crave it," he said.

Mr Clifford denied selling the story to the papers and said neither he nor the woman making the allegations had profited financially.

It has been reported that the Hamiltons are considering suing Scotland Yard over their arrest and may bring a case for wrongful imprisonment after their questioning.

The Hamiltons said the police leaked the story to the press

Mr Hamilton said that contrary to reports, the couple had not tipped off the press about their arrest saying that "somebody in the police" had been responsible.

He added that the police should conduct an internal investigation to determine who had been behind leaking the information.

The couple's solicitor, Michael Coleman, said in his opinion the police had acted with a lack of courtesy and they had been slow to disclose information, such as that regarding the new witness.

'No guts'

"Whether that was deliberate suppression or just embarrassment on the part of the police in the sense that no one has got the guts to make a decision in the police force, I just don't know," Mr Coleman said.

Scotland Yard has so far declined to comment, with a spokeswoman saying it "would be inappropriate to discuss any details during an ongoing investigation".

Mr Hamilton said the couple just wanted the police to clear the matter up so they could get on with their lives and work.

He complained that the police still had their computers as part of the investigations into the allegations.

Those allegations originally surfaced last Friday after the couple were released on police bail following five hours of questioning.