A former aide to an ex-Tory minister has appeared in court charged with six counts of rape.
Jon Boulton, 27, of Stockwell, south-west London, who was a speechwriter and media adviser to the former minister for civil society Rob Wilson, is accused of raping a woman at an address in Wimbledon, south-west London in April last year.
Boulton, dressed in a grey suit, appeared at Wimbledon magistrates court and spoke only to confirm his name.
The chair of the magistrates’ bench, Laura Boyle, adjourned the case to 8 August at Kingston crown court. Boulton was released on bail on condition he does not contact the alleged victim.
Wilson is no longer an MP after losing his Reading East seat to Labour’s Matt Rodda in the general election.
The former minister’s website previously said Boulton helped with “research, drafting of questions, speechwriting and national media” but the references were removed after Boulton was arrested last year on 16 April.
Boulton’s solicitor previously told reporters his client’s temporary contract with Wilson had expired around the time of the alleged offence.
