A former special advisor to Sir Michael Fallon has been acquitted of groping a woman under her skirt at a Christmas party.

Richard Holden, 33, was working for former defence secretary Michael Fallon when the attack on the woman, 24, was said to have taken place in 2016.

Mr Holden was accused of putting his hands inside her coat before he allegedly reached under her skirt to grope her at his home in Vauxhall, south London.

Now the former Kent minister's aide has been found found not guilty of the sexual assault.

He denied the allegations and was found not guilty by a jury at Southwark Crown Court.

Mr Holden joined the Conservative Campaign HQ in 2007.

He worked as the deputy head of the press office and special advisor to Baroness Tina Stowell, the former leader of the House of Lords.

Holden, of St Mary’s Gardens, Lambeth, denies one count of sexual assault.