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'Sex attack' at Keens' home taken over by squatters
Neil Millard and Tim Stewart13 Jul 2009
An alleged sex attack at the constituency home of London Labour MPs Ann and Alan Keen is being investigated by police.
A 42-year-old woman claimed she was sexually assaulted during a party at the derelict house in Brentford, taken over by squatters protesting at the couple's use of parliamentary expenses.
The alleged victim called in police after the incident at the home of the MPs dubbed "Mr and Mrs Expenses".
The party was to mark the end of two weeks' occupation at the £385,000 property after a judge ordered the squatters to leave.
The woman is understood to have been dragged upstairs before being attacked between 3am and 4am on Saturday by two men.
There were reports that damage costing thousands of pounds was caused during the party. But the squatters claimed their party was hijacked by drunken yobs.
The alleged attack occurred less than 24 hours after the Keens won an eviction order at Brentford county court. The squatters moved out as forensics officers began a search.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "No arrests have been made but we are taking statements from people at the party. All occupants have been fully co-operating."
Mr Keen, MP for Feltham and Heston, said: "We are very distressed."
John Lyon, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, has agreed to investigate the couple, who claimed £140,000 for their "second home" - a Westminster flat only 10 miles away.
Reader views (1)
"...taken over by squatters protesting at the couple's use of parliamentary expenses."
When did that squat suddenly evolve into a protest about the expenses? These are people who have squatted before and will do so in the future; people who think the world owes them a living. The takeover of the premises was simply some of these leeches on society hitting a property that was known to be "available".
Did a sexual assault take place? I don't know - but it isn't unreasonable to be unsurprised that one illegal event takes place where people don't worry too much about legal niceties in the first place.
- Rogan, Irving, 13/07/2009 17:14
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