The woman who accused Neil and Christine Hamilton of sexual assault has been charged with perverting the course of justice.
Ms Nadine Milroy-Sloan (28) of Peterhouse Road, Grimsby, was charged at Charing Cross police station in central London.
The mother-of-four alleged last year that she had been sexually assaulted by former Conservative trade minister Mr Hamilton and his wife. She will appear at Horseferry Road Magistrates Court in London on May 16th.
Ms Milroy-Sloan has been bailed until her court appearance.
She was formally charged that "on or before May 6, 2001 within the jurisdiction of the Central Criminal Court, with intent to pervert the course of public justice, you did an act or series of acts which had a tendency to pervert the course of public justice in that you falsely alleged rape and serious sexual assault leading to the arrest of Barry Lehaney, Neil Hamilton and Christine Hamilton which is contrary to common law".
The trainee college lecturer claimed that the Hamiltons and Mr Lehaney, a 61-year-old retired financial adviser, attacked her in a flat in Ilford, east London on May 5 last year.
Last August the Hamiltons were arrested and interviewed at Barkingside police station in London but no charges were ever brought and they were cleared three weeks later. Mr Lehaney was also cleared.
The Hamiltons are now pursuing a libel action against Ms Milroy-Sloan, whose assets were frozen by the High Court.
She has since declared herself bankrupt.
PA