Nigel Evans resigns as deputy speaker amid sex offence charges 10 September 2013 Last updated at 22:29 Conservative MP Nigel Evans has resigned as Commons Deputy Speaker, after being charged with offences including sexual assault, indecent assault and rape. Mr Evans is accused of eight offences in total dating between 2002 and 2013, the Crown Prosecution Service said. There are seven alleged victims. The 55-year-old MP for Ribble Valley denies any wrongdoing and pledged to continue to represent his constituents from the backbenches. In a statement to reporters after being charged, he said: "May I reassure everyone at this time that I will robustly defend my innocence. I appreciate that this case will create a great deal of media interest, but after today I will not be making any further comment until after the case concludes. The director of public prosecutions for England and Wales said the decision to charge Mr Evans had been taken after careful consideration. Keir Starmer added: "We have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and that it is in the public interest to prosecute. Lancashire Constabulary has therefore been authorised to charge two counts of indecent assault, five counts of sexual assault and one count of rape relating to a total of seven alleged victims. Mr Evans is expected to appear before Preston Magistrates' Court on 18 September 2013. The two indecent assaults are alleged to have been committed between 1 January 2002 and 1 January 2004, the five sexual assaults allegedly happened between 1 January 2009 and 1 April 2013, and the alleged rape between 29 March 2013 and 1 April. Mr Evans, from Pendleton in Lancashire, answered bail on Tuesday having previously been arrested in May and June. He was re-arrested and interviewed by detectives throughout the day before being charged in the evening.