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Richard Worth in parliament - Source: ONE News -
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Sacked government minister Richard Worth says he will defend himself vigorously against allegations he committed a crime of a sexual nature.
Worth announced his resignation as a minister on Tuesday citing personal reasons.
It later emerged that he is facing a police investigation over the allegations after a complaint was laid two weeks ago.
Prime Minister John Key has refused to give his reasons for effectively sacking Worth, saying it would interfere with the police inquiry, but he urged his MP to break his silence.
Following this, Worth issued a statement saying people are rushing to judge him on the basis of rumour.
This has damaged his career and hurt his family and friends, he said.
"I maintain that I am innocent of any crime, and I will defend myself vigorously against any accusations that I have broken the law," Worth said.
Little has been confirmed about the allegation, but Police Minister Judith Collins told reporters the police commissioner rang her on Tuesday and told her an allegation of "a sexual nature" had been made against a colleague.
Despite Worth's protestations of innocence, Key said he will never become a minister again.
"Dr Worth's behaviour does not befit that of a minister and I won't have him in my Cabinet."
Key has also said Worth should talk with his family about the wisdom of remaining an MP.
Despite his statement, the troubles for Worth continued with Labour tabling a statement in Parliament from a woman who said she was the victim of unwanted and inappropriate advances from the MP.
Her allegations are not linked to the complaint made to the police.
The woman, who does not want to be identified, said she received numerous text messages and phone calls from Worth between November and February.
After meeting her Worth offered her two jobs and said she would have to leave the Labour Party, of which she is a member, and join National, she said.
While the woman was on a international family trip, the text messages became more explicit including asking her to buy a transparent garment.
Several of the phone calls the woman received from Worth were "vulgar, sexually explicit and I believe were made when he was drunk".
She said Worth once asked her if she prayed something would happen to her husband so she and Worth could be together.
The woman said she "repeatedly made it clear to him that I didn't want a relationship with him".
Labour leader Phil Goff said he passed on the woman's concerns, but not copies of the correspondence, to Key on May 6.
Key said his investigation of the allegation was "as extensive as it possibly could be" in a situation where it was one person's word against another.
"Dr Worth was absolutely adamant, he was happy to have the situation tested if you like, there was no ambiguity in his rebuttal."
The allegation would have been "of great concern" if it were true, Key said.
The latest allegation, which police are investigating and is said to involve a Korean businesswoman, is different in nature, Key said.
