Tory MP Andrew Griffiths says he planned suicide after 'sexting' scandal

Dudley-born Andrew Griffiths quit his Government position in July and referred himself for disciplinary action following a newspaper exposé of the lewd messages he sent to two of his constituents.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the scandal broke, the Burton MP said he had suffered decades of mental health battles linked to being abused as a young child by an older boy.

“I don’t for one second try to excuse what I did,” he said. “The texts were horrible and I apologise hugely for them, and to everyone I have hurt. I am ashamed and embarrassed.

“But I need to put into context why it happened, so that in 15 years, when my daughter reads this interview, she’ll understand exactly why I found myself in this terrible situation.”

Married father-of-one Mr Griffiths, 48, said he felt he owed his constituents an explanation for his behaviour. “While the texts were wrong and the result of my mental breakdown, my battle with my own mental health has been ongoing for decades,” he said.

He revealed he spent 31 days in a psychiatric hospital when the texts were exposed, where he was reportedly diagnosed with an adjustment disorder. He says he had been 'on the verge of suicide' when he was admitted.

In treatment he said he 'confided aloud for the first time in my life that as a child I was abused by an older boy of about 15'.

“He would invite me to play in the garage of his home and abuse me,” he said. “My mum and dad were born in 1922 and 1925. Sex was not something to be discussed and certainly not with a young boy.”

In the wake of the 'sexting' scandal, Mr Griffiths said a friend found him researching ways to kill himself and looking at his death-in-service benefits.

“Two things saved my life,” he said. “The first was the thought of what suicide would do to my daughter and wife. The second was the Chief Whip, who contacted parliament’s doctor and got me into hospital.”

The MP described how the messages he sent to a 28-year-old barmaid and her friend started days after his brother was diagnosed with cancer.

"Two days later, my mind in turmoil, I sent the first text that led to my downfall," he said.

He described the messages as 'a sprinkler system; a coping mechanism of a virtual and imaginary world'.

"My disturbed mind blocking out my worries and fears by filling every spare moment," he said.

"The more chaotic my collapse became, the more compulsive my messaging."

Mr Griffiths, who came second in the Dudley North constituency at in the 2001 General Election, prompted fury in the town after reports emerged that he had branded people from the Castle and Priory ward as 'scum and dregs'.

A Conservative panel is this week expected to reach a verdict on whether he can remain in the party.