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Nick Clegg's former special advisor denied sexually assaulting a woman at a party conference when he appeared in court this afternoon.

Neil Sherlock worked for the former Liberal Democrat leader from January 2012 until March 2013, when he was deputy prime minister.

The 62-year-old is alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman at the party's conference in Brighton, on September 18, 2007. It was reported to police in September 2023.

The former civil servant and consultant appeared in the dock at Hove Crown Court wearing a blue pin-striped suit and yellow tie and spoke only to confirm his name and enter his plea.

Sherlock was told that he would go on trial on Monday, November 29 next year and that the trial was expected to last four to five days.

He was remanded on conditional bail and ordered not to contact or attempt to contact the complainant, who was 30 at the time of the alleged assault.

At the time of the alleged assault, he was a partner at professional services firm KPMG, where he worked from September 1985 until December 2011, before joining Clegg's office.

The former civil servant was awarded a CBE in the 2015 Queen's Birthday Honours list for public and political service.

Neil Sherlock who was Nick Clegg's special advisor while he was Liberal Democrat leader from January 2012 until March 2013 is facing a trial for sexually assaulting a woman

Sherlock arrives at Hove Crown Court today. He spoke only to confirm his name and enter his plea

According to his LinkedIn, his achievements during his time working for Mr Clegg include bringing in shared parental leave and extending flexible working.

Mr Clegg was appointed Liberal Democrat leader in 2007, before entering office as deputy prime minister in 2010, when his party's coalition government with the Conservative Party was formed.

He resigned in 2015, after the Lib Dems performed disastrously at the general election.

Sherlock lives with his wife in a £1.3million detached house in the leafy market town of Godalming, Surrey. The couple have two adult children.

Sherlock is now a partner at Acuti Associates, which he co-founded in 2023. The firm advises CEOs across the public and private sector on navigating a 'new, more uncertain' age.

He has also served as special adviser to Jonathan Holt, UK chief executive at KPMG, since 2021, as well as on the boards of several charities.

This includes The Britain Project, a cross-party political group in 'the radical centre' which aims 'to put hope, decency and integrity at the heart of UK politics'.

Other organisations he works for include Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care, 'reputation research' firm Echo Research and Words Matter, which campaigns against verbal child abuse.

Sherlock has previously worked for the City professional services firm PwC, leading variously on communications, reputation strategy and the implications of Brexit for the firm.

Mr Clegg was appointed Liberal Democrat leader in 2007, before entering office as deputy PM in 2010, when his party's coalition government with the Conservative Party was formed

The former civil servant read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford, graduating with a first-class degree in 1984.

That year, he beat former prime minister Boris Johnson by more than 100 votes to become president of the Oxford Union, the university's historic debating society.

A spokesman for Sussex Police, which is leading the current investigation, said: 'Police received a report in September 2023 of a non-recent sexual assault alleged to have taken place in Brighton in September 2007.

'Following an investigation, Neil Sherlock, 62, of Godalming, Surrey, was charged on May 15, 2026 with one count of sexual assault on a female.'