Former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson faces new sexual offenses charges, bringing the total to 18.
The Northern Irish politician was charged with a further seven crimes after the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) reviewed police evidence, as is normal practice.
When he appeared in court in April, the former deputy was charged with 11 sexual crimes.
His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, 58, was facing four counts of aiding and abetting and will now face five.
The crimes would have occurred between 1985 and 2006 and would involve two alleged victims.
The couple were released on bail after appearing at Newry Magistrates Court in Co Down on April 24.
They will appear in court for a preliminary inquiry on Wednesday, when they are expected to plead not guilty.
Donaldson, who was Northern Ireland’s longest-serving MP, has resigned from his role DUP leader after being charged on March 28, following a day of interrogation.
He was suspended by his party and remained an independent deputy until elections were called in May. He cannot be re-elected as MP for Lagan Valley, where he served for 27 years.
In a letter to the party, the 61-year-old said he would strongly contest the allegations.
Eleanor Donaldson leaves the court in April. Photo: PA
Donaldson was knighted for his services to politics in 2016.
He helped broker the DUP’s £1 billion confidence and supply deal with Theresa May minority Conservative government, when the party held the balance of power at Westminster between 2017 and 2019.
More recently, he compromised and led his party back into the power-sharing government at Stormont, which he had boycotted for two years in the post-war period.Brexit Commercial agreements.
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