Disgraced MP Andrew Falloon may have 'lied to police' over sex texts - Collins

Judith Collins “appalled” at inappropriate messages sent by Andrew Falloon. Video / Mark Mitchell

National leader Judith Collins says Police will likely reopen their investigation into pornographic material sent to young women by disgraced ex-MP Andrew Falloon, after two more women came forward this morning.

"The Police have made it clear to me, that with the pattern of [Falloon's] behaviour, that they will be most likely to be reopening the case."

This comes just hours after Falloon resigned as an MP, after Collins called for him to do so live on radio, and TV.

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The now-disgraced ex-MP had previously said he would resign at the election, after news of him sending pornography to young woman hit headlines last night.

Since then, more women have come forward saying they too have received inappropriate material from Falloon – Collins said two have already been in contact with her office this morning.

Speaking to media this morning, Collins said she was "sorry to say I believe we are going to have more women come forward".

"If I've had two come into the office already this morning, there will be more."

She said she had "certainly had indications from people that they know of more" but would not elaborate.

National leader Judith Collins speaking to reporters, outlining actions taken in the resignation of MP Andrew Falloon. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Before Collins spoke to media, Newsroom quoted one woman who said she had received inappropriate messages from Falloon

"He sent me unsolicited, explicit pictures more than once and then acted totally incoherently, as if he hadn't just dropped a nude into the conversation," the woman told Newsroom.

"He'd ask for them to be deleted to make it seem accidental, which made it really difficult to address because you'd just received an unsolicited picture and when you tried to ask him to stop he was incoherent and would feign innocence."

Police had looked into the initial incident but said the investigation "did not meet the threshold for prosecution" and no further action would be taken.

Collins said she would be making it clear to her MPs this morning that if they have anything they need to disclose – "They need to come and see me straight away".

The National leader said Falloon had told her that an acquaintance at a party sent the message to the first young woman while he was not looking.

Andrew Falloon's story has changed "quite significantly" and more people have come forward, Collins said this morning. Photo / Jason Walls

She said this morning that it was clear that Falloon had lied to both her, the Police and himself.

"There is a pattern of behaviour that now takes this out of an incident – a very, very unfortunate incident – into a pattern of behaviour."

Collins made the comments just moments before her first caucus meeting as leader today.

She told media that she would be advising her MPs that "the behaviour I expect in Parliament is what we would expect in a professional work environment".

"I am sure that most of the caucus, if not all of the caucus, is going to utterly agree with that."

Meanwhile, senior National MP Mark Mitchell said it was clear the public would not be happy with some of the behaviour they had heard about.

"We have to make sure we keep maintaining standards and when we do find out about this kind of behaviour, we act quickly."

National MP Chris Bishop said Falloon's "mistakes" did not mean National was a weak team.

"One person who has clearly made a series of mistakes over a period of time, unknown to the rest of the caucus, I don't think reflects on the rest of the team – it reflects on him."

Andrew Falloon, alongside former National Party leader Todd Muller. Photo / Otago Daily Times

Simon Bridges said he was not alerted to any such issues with Falloon when he was leader.

"I've got no comment now, because I think they are matters for the new leader, for Judith Collins".

Despite this, Collins said she was still taking the matter of Falloon's mental health seriously.

She said she was also "deeply concerned" with the safety of Falloon.

"He is still a human being and I have to take those issues seriously."

Collins has spoken to the first woman to come forward, who was made known to her on Saturday.

"She has taken up the offer to call me on my cell phone and I have had a conversation with her."

Collins said she came across as a "very, very nice young woman who is appalled by what has happened – as am I".

Just moments before she went to air on Newstalk ZB this morning, Collins said she had received an email from Falloon – also addressed to Speaker Trevor Mallard – advising the pair of his resignation.

He announced yesterday he was quitting politics at the election, which would have meant he would have been paid until then.

Collins told ZB she could "no longer trust his story".

"I believe it's better for him, better for the young woman who is my first priority, and for Parliament, that he resigns."

Andrew Falloon MP for Rangitata South Canterbury. Photo / Supplied

Falloon's email this morning came after "fresh allegations" that another sexually inappropriate message had been sent to a young woman.

The woman at the centre of this latest claim is not a teenager and did not get her parents involved, unlike the first case.

Collins called on anyone who might have received similar messages from Falloon to come forward and "we will take action".

Collins said this was "absolutely out of the blue".

"Although it now appears that some people were aware that he abused alcohol."

She had "never seen that because I was too busy doing my work".

But the issue of heavy drinking among MPs would be raised this morning in caucus, she said.