The disgraced former Conservative minister Andrew Griffiths raped his wife when she was asleep and subjected her to coercive control, a high court judge has concluded. The judgment, published on Friday, detailed alleged domestic abuse by Griffiths towards his wife, Kate, who is now a serving Conservative MP, during their marriage. It also included pressing her into sex, physically assaulting and verbally abusing her, the judge found. Andrew Griffiths denied allegations made by his ex-wife and “adamantly denied” rape. He resigned from the government as business minister in July 2018 for sending 2,000 sexually explicit messages to constituents. In November 2019, he stepped down as an MP saying he would back his wife to succeed him. Kate Griffiths, who left him when the story broke, was subsequently elected as Tory MP for the seat of Burton in East Staffordshire.
The allegations against her estranged husband were made in a case that began as an application by Andrew Griffiths in 2019, arguing he should be allowed to spend time with a child at the centre of the case. Kate Griffiths subsequently supported an application by two journalists – Tortoise Media’s Louise Tickle and PA Media’s Brian Farmer – for the judgment to be published, including the names of her and her ex-husband. Andrew Griffiths had opposed publication of the judgment dating from November last year but his arguments were rejected by the high court and then the court of appeal, where judges referred to “the mother’s right to tell her story”. As the case was heard in a civil court, the findings of Judge Elizabeth Williscroft were made on the lower standard of proof of the balance of probabilities rather than the criminal standard of beyond reasonable doubt. As well as Andrew Griffiths raping his wife while she slept “on a number of occasions”, Williscroft found that he had used “coercive and controlling behaviour” to ensure his wife submitted to his sexual demands, which included submissive behaviour, throughout their relationship. He was also found to have hit her, pushed her into a wall, put his hands around her neck, spat at her and thrown a tray of food over her. He employed threats to make her homeless or leave her without money. Griffiths was also found to have used violence on multiple occasions towards a female relative of his who was not named. Kate Griffiths welcomed the decision as “a positive step forward in a legal battle that has taken a huge emotional and financial toll on my family. “I supported publication of the family court’s findings – and waived my right to anonymity – because I recognise the unique position I am in to campaign to improve the outcomes of cases such as this, for those who endure domestic violence, and the actions taken to protect the children involved.” Neither she nor her lawyer commented on whether any criminal complaint has been or will be made. Kate Griffiths gave evidence behind a screen during the fact-finding trial. The judge said she had found her to be “a fair witness” who told her account without embellishment. By contrast, Williscroft said, her estranged husband was, in court, “like a politician responding to debate or questioning”. She also said that he had constantly attempted to diminish his estranged wife by describing her as exaggerated and theatrical in court and in his evidence.
In court, Andrew Griffiths detailed childhood events he said had caused a breakdown, echoing claims he made after the sexual text messages emerged. But Williscroft said they could “not explain or excuse” his behaviour towards his wife or others. The judge said: “Kate Griffiths is not unusual in being in love with a man and living with behaviour that she says she found humiliating and demeaning … It seems to me that it never crossed Andrew Griffiths’s mind that she would not do what he liked her to do.” She said he still did not appear to recognise that his behaviour was abusive, despite his counsel’s claims on his behalf to the contrary. Other MPs praised Kate Griffiths with Rosie Duffield, herself a domestic abuse survivor, saying: “No words to describe my respect for this incredibly strong woman.” Jess Phillips said simply: “Kate Griffiths is a hero.” Andrew Griffiths said he was “deeply disappointed” by the decision to publish the judgment, adding that he “strongly denied the allegations put to me”.