A MAN who said he was raped by former Commons deputy speaker Nigel Evans has told a jury he had not given a false account to "save his conscience".

Giving his third day of evidence, the complainant denied he and the MP had consensual sex and he had "regretted it ever since". He said what he did regret was "my cowardice" at allowing himself to get into the situation where he ended up in bed with Mr Evans.

The incident is said to have taken place after the complainant attended a dinner party at Mr Evans's home, where he had agreed to stay over in a spare room.

Preston Crown Court has heard the man say he had not invited any sexual contact but got under the covers with Mr Evans after he was "escorted" to his bedroom. The MP's account of events was that the pair kissed and that the man willingly went to bed with him and they had consensual sex.

Peter Wright QC, defending, said: "What you sought to do is to rationalise your conduct in a way that is consistent with the account you have given to save your conscience about it." The complainant replied: "That's so far-fetched."

Earlier, Mr Wright put it to him that he had felt regret at what had he had consented to. The man said: "I regret my cowardice. I did feel angry, I did not feel responsible for Nigel's behaviour." Mr Evans denies the charges. The trial continues.