Former Top Gear host Chris Evans escapes sexual assault claim

Former Top Gear host Chris Evans will face no charges of sexual assault because of lack of evidence. Photo / AP

Chris Evans, the former Top Gear host, will face no action over allegations that he sexually assaulted a former colleague, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.

A woman told Heat Street, the news website, that Evans had grabbed her breasts in the early 1990s, when he was presenting the Big Breakfast, the Channel 4 show.

It is understood that the BBC presenter - who has always denied the claims - was questioned by officers from the Metropolitan Police's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command earlier today.

In a statement, the Met said: "An allegation of non-recent sexual assault was made to police on Monday, 23 May 16. The allegation was made by a woman against a man. It related to incidents in Tower Hamlets in the 1990s.

"The matter was investigated by officers from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command.

"Today, Thursday 28 July 2016, a man in his 50s was interviewed under caution by police at an East London police building.

"The decision was made by the police that there was insufficient evidence to proceed."

The BBC had stood by the presenter, who quit Top Gear after just one series, and elected against suspending him from his Radio 2 breakfast show while the claims were investigated.

A spokesman for Evans said: "The police have acted with complete tact, grace and speed and done a thorough and good job in a reasonable time."