Imogen Treharne (left) was subjected to a barrage of messages from Andrew Griffiths (right) who described himself as a "horny daddy". Photos / Facebook, UK Parliament
Imogen Treharne (left) was subjected to a barrage of messages from Andrew Griffiths (right) who described himself as a "horny daddy". Photos / Facebook, UK Parliament
A married Conservative minister has quit after bombarded two barmaids with 2,000 texts making sexual demands.
New father Andrew Griffiths gave £700 (NZ$1369) to Imogen Treharne and her friend and even offered to rent out a flat so that they could hook up while demanding they send him something "f****** filthy".
Describing himself as "evil", the 47-year-old outlined degrading sex acts, demanding explicit pictures and videos and said he'd rather be 'licking naughty girls' instead of "running the country".
When Ms Treharne sent a video of her spanking another woman, he told her it was "nowhere near hard enough" and asked if she could take a beating, Mirror Online reports.
On Friday he said he was "deeply shamed", assured the public he was seeking help and apologised to Theresa May for his behaviour after sending two constituents messages about violent sado-masochism, reports Daily Mail.
Renowned for creating Women to Win to boost female MPs, the prime minister's former adviser unleashed a torrent of messages almost daily for three weeks.
Imogen Treharne (pictured) and her friend received messages in which Griffiths called himself "daddy with power". Photo / Facebook
The Burton and Uttoxeter MP referred to himself as "Daddy" in messages, writing: "I'm the daddy with power. I'm the daddy with the naughtiest streak."
After sending the women £200 (NZ$391) to buy "treats", he wrote: "A horny daddy is a generous daddy."
The married MP sent these messages to the barmaid and her friend and quit in disgrace after his behaviour was exposed. Photo / Supplied
He boasted about swigging champagne at Buckingham Palace with Prince Charles, claimed to friends with Katherine Jenkins and told the women Katie Price 'looked like a cat' after meeting the model at a fundraiser.
The politician bombarded the pair with messages after getting in contact with them online.
Mr Griffiths - who earns about £100,000 (NZ$195,000) a year - resigned following a meeting with Chief Whip Julian Smith who determined that the messages amounted to a breach of the Ministerial Code.
Photo / Supplied
A senior source said the Prime Minister had agreed that Mr Griffiths had 'fallen short of the expected standards of Ministerial behaviour' by sending the messages.
A Government colleague said: "I understand it was pretty clear from the word go that Andrew had to resign as a Minister."
It is understood that Mr Griffiths, who was only promoted to the Business Minister role in January, quit on Friday evening.
Mr Griffiths said: "I am deeply ashamed at my behaviour which has caused untold distress to my wife and family, to whom I owe everything, and deep embarrassment to the Prime Minister and the Government I am so proud to serve.
"I tendered my resignation as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Small Business on Friday night. Following discussions today with the Chief Whip I have referred myself to the Conservative Party's Code of Conduct procedures.
"I entirely accept that pending this investigation it is right the whip is withdrawn. I wish to apologise to my constituency association and to the people of Burton I am honoured to represent.
"I do not seek to excuse my behaviour and will be seeking professional help to ensure it never happens again. In time I hope to earn the forgiveness of all those who put their trust in me and that I have let down so terribly.
A senior source said Prime Minister Theresa May had agreed that Mr Griffiths had "fallen short of the expected standards of Ministerial behaviour" by sending the messages. Photo / Getty Images
"The Prime Minister and the Government she leads will continue to have my full support." Mr Griffiths' resignation is the third high profile one to hit Mrs May in under seven days, following the departure last week of Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson over the Prime Minister's Chequers Brexit deal.
And it comes just months after the Commons was shaken by the "Pestminster" scandal which led to the resignations of Defence Secretary Michael Fallon – over historic accusations of "lunging" at a journalist – and First Secretary of State Damian Green for making "inaccurate and misleading" statements about pornography found on his Commons computer.
Dover MP Charlie Elphicke had the party whip suspended in November over allegations of harassment. He strongly denies any wrongdoing. Mrs May also lost Home Secretary Amber Rudd earlier this year following the furore over the Windrush immigration scandal.
Mr Griffiths – a former chief of staff to Mrs May – attracted sympathy earlier this year when he revealed the 'horrific abuse' he and his wife had received from Left-wing trolls who targeted them after he clashed with Jeremy Corbyn in the Commons.
When wife Kate, who is in her late-40s, was pregnant with her first child, the couple were subjected to an appalling hate campaign, with one Corbynista troll telling Mrs Griffiths: "Hope your baby dies."
Mrs Griffiths gave birth to a daughter in April. Mr Griffiths married Kate, who worked for the Burton Albion football club, four years ago.
At the time of his daughter's birth, he said: "We never thought we'd be lucky enough to have children, so it's all the more special. She is a little miracle and we are both totally over the moon."
After working as chief of staff to Mrs May when the Tories were in Opposition, Mr Griffiths entered the Commons in 2010 as Burton MP. He was promoted to Government Whip in July 2016.
