One of Britain’s leading economists has been interviewed under police caution after claims he assaulted a prostitute after the pair smoked crack cocaine together in St Albans.

Professor Douglas McWilliams, executive chairman of City think-tank the Centre for Economic and Business Research, allegedly attacked Beverly Shearon at her flat in Lycaste Close on New Year’s Eve.

She told the Sun on Sunday the married academic was a regular visitor and took drugs with her before he “flipped out” when a neighbour arrived unannounced.

Ms Shearon, 47, told The Sun she was left with facial bruising, a black eye and a hand injury.

The self-confessed call girl claims she then performed a sex act on the Oxford-educated economist.

McWilliams lectures at Oxford University and has given formal evidence at select committees in the House of Lords and the Commons.

Hertfordshire Police confirmed to the Review that a 63-year-old man from London had been questioned over a reported assault on a woman, but that no drug offences were being investigated.