Mike Hancock case: Woman wins right to see QC report
Nick Clegg: "I acted immediately"
The alleged sexual assault victim of MP Mike Hancock has won a bid to see a full version of a report about her accusations in court.
Portsmouth City Council, where Mr Hancock is a councillor, opposed the application. A redacted version of the QC's report has already been leaked.
Master Leslie, a High Court official, ruled she should feel she had "a fair hearing and a fair crack of the whip".
Earlier, Nick Clegg insisted he "acted immediately" over the allegations.
Mr Clegg said he acted as soon as he heard of the "appalling" sexual allegations against the backbench MP.
The Liberal Democrat leader made the comment amid claims nothing was done for three years after the party was notified of the complaints.
'Deserved compassion'Portsmouth South MP Mr Hancock carried out his first official business earlier since being suspended from the party on Wednesday.
QC Nigel Pascoe's report into claims of sexual misconduct towards a female constituent with mental health issues had not been officially published but the Liberal Democrat-led council must now make it available to her.
In the report, Mr Pascoe said the woman deserved "compassion and respect" and the account she gave was "credible".
Lawyers acting for the alleged sexual assault victim of the MP had asked the High Court to force the full disclosure of the report at a forthcoming civil court action.
Mr Hancock denies the allegations.
He resigned the parliamentary party whip last year but was still sitting as a Lib Dem local councillor.
'Seriousness of allegations'Mr Clegg, who is also facing criticism over the handling of separate sexual harassment allegations against Lord Rennard, said he had acted last year as soon as he heard a civil case was being brought against his MP.
Mike Hancock carried out his first official business earlier after being suspended from the party "When I was given the specific allegations at the beginning of last year I immediately asked our chief whip to investigate," he said.
"As a result Mike Hancock ceased to be a Lib Dem MP.
"When those allegations were then supported by the QC's report that has come to light this week again we acted immediately and Mike Hancock has been suspended from the Lib Dems altogether."
The Deputy Prime Minister added: "The first time I was given specific allegations was when there was a notification of legal proceedings, which I was informed of at the beginning of last year.
"You can only react to things that are put to you. That is when I acted. I acted immediately because I was as appalled as anyone by the seriousness of these allegations."
Mr Hancock left Portsmouth Guildhall after chairing a brief meeting of the council's planning committee earlier.
In the agenda he was still listed as a Liberal Democrat.
Following the meeting, he said he had no further comment to make on the week's developments.
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