Former UK MP Cleared of Sex Assaults Returns to Parliament

Nigel Evans, the former deputy speaker in Britain's House of Commons, formally rejoined the Conservative Party in parliament on Monday having been cleared of a string of sex offenses.

Evans, 56, was arrested in May last year and resigned as a deputy speaker in parliament's lower house when he was charged in September, but stayed on in the chamber as an independent lawmaker.

He was cleared on April 10 of sexually assaulting six young men and raping another, saying afterwards he had been put through "11 months of hell."

Evans met with Chief Whip George Young -- the official who ensures party discipline -- who restored him to the Tory ranks.

"I am delighted to have the Conservative whip again," he said.

"This represents a full stop after the events of the past 11 months."

Prime Minister David Cameron's center-right Conservatives govern in coalition with the smaller centrist Liberal Democrats.

Evans now intends to campaign for a change in the law so that people who are cleared in court are not left with crippling debts for the cost of defending themselves against erroneous charges.

Evans faces legal bills of £130,000 ($220,000, 160,000 euros) for his defense, despite being acquitted on all counts.

He also wants a rethink on the law that allows people charged with sex offenses to be named while their accusers remain anonymous.

At his trial, the court heard the openly gay lawmaker, an MP of 22 years, was prone to "drunken over-familiarity."

However, three of the Welshman's seven alleged victims did not consider an offence had been committed against them.