ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

Former Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney has been interviewed under caution by police over allegations that she broke official spending limits, the Standard can reveal.

Detectives who carried out extensive interviews concluded “there were discrepancies with the [spending] return submitted which is a criminal offence”.

The Special Enquiry Team at Scotland Yard sent a file to the Crown Prosecution Service. However, the CPS ruled that there was no evidence to show the breach was deliberate and the police closed the case.

The allegations related to spending in the 2016 Richmond Park by-election, when Ms Olney beat Zac Goldsmith. He won the seat back last year.

In a letter to Mr Goldsmith, Detective Inspector Gail Granville wrote: “In this particular case the CPS advised that it would not be in the public interest to charge either Mrs Olney or her agent with a criminal offence as there was no evidence to suggest a dishonest mens rea [intention], albeit there were discrepancies with the return submitted which is a criminal offence.”

“Ms Olney strongly denies that she or her campaign team set out to break any rules.” A Lib Dem spokesman said police “have confirmed there will be no further action”.

Resident Stuart Coster, who compared the Lib Dems’ record of spending with activity he recorded on the ground, estimated a £5,157-£15,414 overspend. He said: “It’s very disappointing that after all the evidence I submitted, the case is not being taken further.”

Mr Goldsmith said the CPS ruling flew in the face of “overspending by a very considerable margin”.