The Hamiltons were cleared of the rape allegation

TV personality Christine Hamilton broke down and was "terrified" when police arrested her for sexually assaulting a woman, a court has heard.

Mrs Hamilton, 53, and her husband, former Tory MP Neil Hamilton, were later cleared of any involvement.

A jury at the Old Bailey is trying trainee teacher Nadine Milroy-Sloan, 29, on charges she lied about the alleged rape.

Ms Milroy-Sloan, of Grimsby, Lincolnshire, denies perverting the course of justice.

In a statement read to the court on Monday, Mrs Hamilton said she became so upset that she had to see a police doctor when she was told of the claim at Barkingside police station, east London.

She said: "I was searched by a woman officer and I had to see a police doctor because I became so emotional."

The whole thing was preposterous and false - it was a deeply frightening experience Christine Hamilton

Mrs Hamilton said she and her husband had been spending the day recording media interviews about Jeffrey Archer on 19 July 2001 when they first heard about the claim.

Their solicitor had rung them in their car and said the police had sufficient evidence to arrest the couple for assault, she said.

"This terrified me."

After going to the police station, she was told the full details of Ms Milory-Sloan's rape allegation.

Search warrants

Ms Milroy-Sloan had claimed the Hamiltons and a man she claimed to be their "chauffeur", flat owner Barry Lehaney, 62 - as well as another unknown man - sexually assaulted her.

Mrs Hamilton said she and her husband were shown into a small room at a police station. "They said they had search warrants for our house, flat and car.

I totally deny the allegations Neil Hamilton

"The whole thing was preposterous and false. It was a deeply frightening experience."

Mrs Hamilton said she stressed to police that she had never met Ms Milroy-Sloan or Barry Lehaney.

She said on 5 May 2001, the day the alleged attack took place, she had been shopping in Kings Road, Chelsea, had friends round to dinner and had also gone to Claridges Hotel for drinks with her husband.

The couple later produced shop receipts and credit card slips to show they were nowhere near Ilford, Essex - the setting of the alleged attack.

E-mail denial

Mr Hamilton, the former MP for Tatton, said in his statement that the couple had never had a chauffeur.

Asked if he had sent pornographic pictures and sexy e-mails to Ms Milroy-Sloan, he insisted he "can't use e-mail".

He also spoke of his wife's ordeal. "My wife was upset and reacted in an emotional way to what was being said."

Ms Milroy-Sloan denies perverting the course of justice

He added: "I totally deny the allegations."

As well as clearing the Hamiltons, police dropped any action against Mr Lehaney.

The prosecution allege Ms Milroy-Sloan is a sexual fantasist who had never met the Hamiltons and made up the allegations to find fame and make money.

She denies two charges of perverting the course of justice between 5 May 5 2001, and 31 January last year by making false allegations to police that others had committed criminal offences.

The case continues.