▁which ▁the ▁case ▁was ▁discussed . ▁The ▁application ▁was ▁with dra wn ▁on ▁ 2 0 ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 2 . ▁In ▁December ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁newsp apers ▁reported ▁that ▁Es sex ▁Police ▁had ▁recommended ▁to ▁the ▁C PS ▁that ▁both ▁Hu h ne ▁and ▁P ry ce ▁ought ▁to ▁be ▁pro sec uted ▁for ▁the ▁alleg ed ▁off ences . ▁ ▁C riminal ▁proceed ings ▁ ▁Pre lim inary ▁hear ings ▁On ▁ 3 ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 2 , ▁the ▁Director ▁of ▁Public ▁Pro sec utions , ▁Ke ir ▁Star mer ▁Q C ▁announced ▁that ▁there ▁was ▁sufficient ▁evidence ▁to ▁bring ▁charges ▁against ▁Hu h ne ▁and ▁P ry ce . ▁Hu h ne ▁immediately ▁res igned ▁as ▁Secretary ▁of ▁State ▁for ▁Energy ▁and ▁Cl imate ▁Change , ▁becoming ▁the ▁first ▁cabinet ▁minister ▁in ▁British ▁history ▁to ▁be ▁forced ▁from ▁office ▁as ▁a ▁result ▁of ▁criminal ▁proceed ings . ▁They ▁were ▁sum mon ed ▁to ▁appear ▁at ▁West min ster ▁Mag istr ates ' ▁Court ▁on ▁ 1 6 ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 2 , ▁at ▁which , ▁by ▁right , ▁neither ▁def endant ▁indicated ▁a ▁ple a . ▁ ▁They ▁were ▁both ▁granted ▁un cond itional ▁b ail . ▁The ▁case ▁was ▁sent ▁for ▁trial ▁at ▁the ▁Crown ▁Court ▁at ▁South w ark , ▁with ▁an ▁initial ▁hearing ▁fixed ▁for ▁ 2 ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 2 . ▁ ▁The ▁charge ▁against ▁Hu h ne ▁was ▁that : ▁ ▁The ▁charge ▁against