No charges for Werritty over 'fraud' probe

31 October 2012

Adam Werritty will not face fraud charges related to his working relationship with former Defence Secretary Liam Fox due to a lack of evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service has announced.

Werritty's presence on 18 foreign trips and at 22 meetings in the Ministry of Defence during Fox's 17 months as Defence Secretary led to accusations that the Defence Secretary's former flatmate was providing donors with access to Fox.

Fox resigned on 14 October 2011 after it was found that his dealings with Werritty were in breach of the ministerial code, and shortly afterwards Labour MP John Mann asked the City of London police to investigate whether a fraud may have been committed during the meetings.

"Following an investigation by City of London Police, we have decided that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute Mr Adam Werritty for any alleged offences," said Crown Prosecution Service spokesman Andrew Penhale.

"The matters referred to us involved the alleged misuse of Mr Werritty's business cards and of funds donated to his business.

"These are matters which have been widely reported. In accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, we have advised City of London Police that there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction."

In an article for Spectator magazine last December, Werritty said that reporting of the meetings had been "long on drama and innuendo, but short on details and specifics".

"What had this 'villainous' Adam Werritty actually done?" he wrote.

Werritty said that his "unusual" role was to "research and network" on behalf of donors

"To meet various experts, attend forums and conferences and get a solid understanding of various foreign affairs issues."