Esther Baker alleges she was repeatedly sexually assaulted as a young girl in Staffordshire woods and Dolphin Square flat in London

A former MP is to be interviewed under caution by police over claims that he was part of a paedophile ring who repeatedly sexually assaulted a young girl in the 1980s and 1990s, the Guardian understands.

The man has been in communication with Staffordshire police, who are investigating allegations that he was one of a core group of men who regularly raped and abused the girl in woods in Cannock Chase, Staffordshire.



He is due to be questioned under caution by detectives on the inquiry some time in October. He strongly denies the allegations and has told police he believes there is an attempt to pervert the course of justice taking place.

The alleged victim, Esther Baker, waived her right to anonymity to make the claims public in May, in an interview with Sky and on the Exaro news website in a series of stories.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Esther Baker says the names of her alleged abusers will shock people. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

She has said her abusers possibly included a peer and a judge, and that the abuse went on for four years from the age of six, in the woodland and at other locations, often while police officers stood guard.

Baker has also alleged that she was sexually abused at a flat in London, which she now believes to be Dolphin Square, in Westminster – the location at the centre of the Metropolitan police’s Operation Midland inquiry into the alleged murders of three children by high-profile individuals in a paedophile ring.

The former politician, who has not been named, said: “I am ready to refute the allegations with documentary evidence which proves I was rarely in Staffordshire at the time in question. I have communicated to police I believe there is an attempt to pervert the course of justice going on.”

Staffordshire police said no other alleged victims had come forward or been interviewed in connection with the allegations.

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Baker said: “It’s with the police and I look forward to them investigating.”

It is understood she has given the police permission to trawl through her emails and social media messages to corroborate her account of the allegation.

The former politician, whose name has not been released publicly, is one of 1,400 high-profile individuals who have been or are under police investigation across the country for child abuse dating back decades. They include 76 politicians, alive and dead, 135 celebrities and 43 people from the music industry.

The case has been referred to Operation Hydrant, a national team coordinating the investigations taking place across the country, which was set up in the wake of the Jimmy Savile revelations and the increase in reporting of child sexual abuse which followed.

The former politician contacted police in April this year after he became aware via a national newspaper that the allegations were being made against him.

In May, Baker waived her right to anonymity as an alleged victim of sexual abuse, and made the allegations public in the media interviews. She did not name the former MP.

It is understood the former politician will have the allegations put to him during the police interview, for which he has hired a solicitor to represent him.

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Detectives from Staffordshire police have interviewed Baker extensively over her claims. In August, during the ongoing police investigation, Baker was interviewed again by Exaro and said: “Who the perpetrators are will shock people but I think the ripple effect will be quite far.”

Staffordshire police have confirmed they are investigating a number of serious allegations of child abuse from an alleged victim relating to the 1980s and 90s.

“We are determined to thoroughly gather any evidence which will allow us to bring those who may have been involved to justice, while taking a sensitive approach to supporting the victim throughout,” the force said in a statement. “To be clear, regardless of role, anyone who has been involved in criminal offences will be investigated to provide justice for the victim.

“Child abuse is a terrible crime, whenever it occurs. In this specific case the victim has made the decision to waive her right to anonymity. Staffordshire police want to reassure anyone who has been a victim of any form of child or sexual abuse that their anonymity will be protected.”

Separately, a 64-year-old man has been arrested and released on police bail as part of the inquiry.