British Police Arrest Second Celebrity In Savile Sex Scandal

[News_Editor]

British police arrest second celebrity in Savile sex scandal < br />

2012-11-03 05:15:08 GMT+7 (ICT)

LONDON, ENGLAND (BNO NEWS) -- British police on Thursday arrested well-known comedian Freddie Starr in connection with an investigation into allegations that the late BBC entertainer Jimmy Savile and others were involved in the sexual abuse of hundreds of children.

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), which is better known as Scotland Yard, said a man from Warwickshire was arrested at approximately 5:45 p.m. local time on Thursday on suspicion of sexual offences. Police only referred to the man as "Yewtree 2", but it is understood to be 69-year-old Starr.

The comedian was released on bail early Friday morning but returned hours later for further questioning by police. "He has been re-bailed a date in December," a Scotland Yard spokesperson said. "He falls under the strand of the investigation we have termed 'Savile and others.'"

The arrest comes after a woman named Karen Ward claimed she was groped by Starr in 1974 in Jimmy Savile's BBC dressing room when she was 14 years old. Starr previously denied the allegations, telling ITV: "There is one thing I hate close to my heart (and) that is pedophiles. I cannot stand them, and to be accused like this is devastating to say the least. And I've got to fight back."

The child abuse scandal emerged early last month when British television network ITV aired an investigative program in which several women alleged Savile sexually abused them when they were below the age of consent. The program claimed Savile would use his fame to get access to young teenage girls, some who may have been as young as 12 years old.

British police have so far identified more than 200 potential victims. The allegations against Savile span six decades with reports starting in 1959 up to and including 2006, just five years before he died at his home in northern England last year at the age of 84. Some of the abuse allegedly took place at hospitals.

On October 19, the investigation, dubbed 'Operation Yewtree', moved from an assessment to a formal criminal investigation into child sexual exploitation by Savile and others. "As we have said from the outset, our work was never going to take us into a police investigation into Jimmy Savile," Scotland Yard said in a statement at the time. "What we have established in the last two weeks is that there are lines of inquiry involving living people that require formal investigation."

Pop star Gary Glitter was arrested on suspicion of sexual offences in connection with the investigation on October 28, although details of his alleged involvement remain unclear. He rose to fame in the early 1970s but was convicted of possessing child pornography in 1999 and later found guilty by a Vietnamese court of committing obscene acts with minors.

The BBC has also come under fire after it emerged that the broadcaster had canceled a six-week Newsnight investigation in December 2011 which looked into claims that police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had dropped inquiries into abuse allegations against Savile. Some women have claimed they were abused by Savile on BBC premises.

BBC director-general George Entwistle apologized to potential victims last month and promised to investigate the allegations. "The BBC will not avoid confronting the events of its past; to understand what happened and to try to ensure that nothing of this kind can happen ever again at the BBC," he said in a video statement.

The broadcaster has ordered two independent investigations into the alleged sexual abuse by Savile. One investigation will focus on why the BBC Newsnight investigation was canceled while the second investigation will be to determine whether culture and practice at the BBC at the time enabled Savile to sexually abuse children.

Savile was hugely popular in Britain and was best known for being the first and last presenter of the long-running BBC music chart show "Top of the Pops" and for hosting the BBC television show "Jim'll Fix It". He was also known for his voluntary work and is estimated to have raised more than £40 million ($64 million) for charity, earning him knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 1996 and Papal knighthood from Pope John Paul II in 1990.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-11-03

[Steely Dan]

Starr and Glitter! It has a bit of a ring to it.

[angsta]

Will they be arresting Bill Wyman of the Stones for sleeping with 15 year old Mandy Smith a minor when he was in his 50's?

[Scott]

Unless the people involved are a part of this investigation, then I would believe it is off-topic.

[Several]

This will cause a lot of speculation. This kind of crime becomes a witch hunt fast. Sexual abuse is a social disease we may never solve no matter how severely we punish these pedophiles.

[ThailandBert]

This alleged offence happened in 1974. How an earth can you prosecute and get a firm conviction after so long. Who can remember what they were doing in 1974 ?

[Scott]

It is difficult, but not impossible to get convictions on some of these older crimes. If they can place the victim and the alleged perpetrator in the same location at the time, it starts getting a little more credible. With famous people, it gets a little easier because sometimes there is good evidence. There may be others who were present.

In this instance, the girl has claimed she was groped. Legally, I am not sure what that means and whether a court would consider his behavior as illegal or simply inappropriate.

Unfortunately, these cases seem to take on a life of their own and people come crawling out of the woodwork. Real victims are sometimes overshadowed by attention/fame seekers.

In the US, you could just about watch the news and figure out who was negotiating a book deal.

[asiawatcher]

Agree with the OP. These do become a witch hunt and any woman can refer back to a time past and accuse someone. There will be truth to contend with but there may also be "reasonable doubt" in the accusations.

[davejones]

I think it is totally wrong to accuse people after they have died, as they have no way to defend themselves. Seems like many have just realised that he left a lot of money and want a share of it. I feel sorry for the genuine victims (if there are any), but this is turning into a circus and witch hunt. The BBC has changed since the 1970s, so what's the point of investigating their procedures at the time, because they no longer exist.

[KhaoNiaw]

Saville should be exposed. I don't agree that it seems like people are coming out because of the money - there's not really been any indication that massive payouts are going to be made. What it does show is the extent of what he was doing. And if there were others involved with him who are still alive, they should face the music. What Saville was doing was on a massive scale and I think there may well be more disturbing revelations to come.

Where it shouldn't descend into a witch hunt is by looking at every rock star who might have slept with an underage groupie. At least Bill Wyman married Mandy Smith. I bet every member of the Rolling Stones is sweating on this right now - they won't even remember most of the young ladies they encountered in their younger days!

But where there was systematic abuse of children, it should be uncovered. In Jimmy Saville's case, the links to royalty and politicians and the absolute impunity with which he operated is going to open up a real can of worms.

[bendejo]

I knew someone involved in the music/fashion world in the late 60s. Said she was at a party Donovan gave, and his nibs definitely had a preference for girls that were obviously under 18.

Edited November 3, 2012 by bendejo

[ThailandBert]

I see this morning the hysterical witch hunt is gathering pace well. We now have Leonard Rossiter outed as a paedophile now. Another conveniently dead celebrity that can't defend himself and another poor victim that has kept quiet for 40 years.

I see also they have also frozen the estate of Saville in case they have to pay out compensation, which for me this is all it is about, but surely you have to be convicted of a crime in a court before compensation can be given or ordered ? How can you take a dead man to court ?

The BBC is also getting sued for 2 million by some guy saying he was abused.

[Exsexyman]

Saville should be exposed. I don't agree that it seems like people are coming out because of the money - there's not really been any indication that massive payouts are going to be made. What it does show is the extent of what he was doing. And if there were others involved with him who are still alive, they should face the music. What Saville was doing was on a massive scale and I think there may well be more disturbing revelations to come.

Where it shouldn't descend into a witch hunt is by looking at every rock star who might have slept with an underage groupie. At least Bill Wyman married Mandy Smith. I bet every member of the Rolling Stones is sweating on this right now - they won't even remember most of the young ladies they encountered in their younger days!

But where there was systematic abuse of children, it should be uncovered. In Jimmy Saville's case, the links to royalty and politicians and the absolute impunity with which he operated is going to open up a real can of worms.

You make a very good point. Whilst Rock stars having consensual sex with underage groupies is of course wrong and indeed illegal, it is not the same as the organised and systematic abuse and rape of children in care homes, hospitals etc. While the BBC, rightly , are having to account for what happened on their premises, there is a much bigger issue here, ie the law, wealth and power. News just breaking from the UK about a senior Tory politician, a grandee from the Thatcher years whose name has been linked for years with abuse in children's homes in the UK, indeed an MP last week raised this in parliament. The UK has a libel law which in practice is only available to the rich. And whistle blowers are afforded no legal protection unless they first report their concerns to their immediate superiors. And no MP with any loyalty to their party will dig too deep for fear of the part Peers and MPs may have played in this abuse. But this ongoing scandal may have legs, enough of the suspected players, establishment or not, are dead now, you cannot libel a dead person. So don't be surprised if people thought of as being beyond accountability are posthumously held to account. A few newspapers have been trying to various establishment figures to sex rings for years, successfully so in the cases of Lord Boothby and Tom Driberg. And with all these journalists and board members of the BBC being witch hunted we shouldn't be surprised if they hit back a little harder. You back a cat into a corner and it is going to scratch. At the very least Gary Glitter and Freddie Starr will get their day in open court, perhaps they will shed some light. Savile and the goings on at the BBC are just the tip of a very large iceberg, lets see how far we get with this one. Sadly if past investigations are anything to go by a few minor players will be sacrificed - before all investigations are suddenly and inexplicably wrapped up, and mainstream media interests vanishes overnight.

[theblether]

To me the complainants should be split into four categories...........

Those that complained to the police or authorities about Saville when he was alive, and there are a fair few of them, they have rightful cause to complain that they were ignored or let down.

Those, such as this lady, who were part of the Newsnight investigation which was shelved by the BBC and others who tried to bring attention to his activities after his death but before the ITV programme was broadcast.

Those which were under 16 at the time of the alleged offence being perpetrated upon them, they clearly fall under the remit of being victims of a paedophile.

Those who were 16 or over at the time of the offence, they are in a category of being victims of a sexual assault, not paedophilia.

The real victims are at risk of being swamped by spurious claims.

.

Edited November 3, 2012 by theblether

[ThailandBert]

Blether you seem to be totally missing the point. you can break it into as many categories as you like but nothing is going to change the fact the man accused is dead. You can't try a dead man. The people suddenly wanting to tell the world of their abuse at his hands are 40 years too late. far too much time has passed for any of this to be put before a court. The accusation against Freddie Starr happened in 1974 for crying out loud. How can you prosecute safely for this ?

This is just turning into a compensation free for all hence all the people suddenly wanting to tell all.

And dead men especially can't defend the case.

I am in no way trying to defend the man as he seems to have been a right nonce but he has escaped justice by dying and nothing anyone does is going to change that fact

[KhaoNiaw]

The accusation against Freddie Starr happened in 1974 for crying out loud. How can you prosecute safely for this ?

This is just turning into a compensation free for all hence all the people suddenly wanting to tell all.

And dead men especially can't defend the case.

Agree with you on Freddie Starr, but completely disagree over Jimmy Savile. And I don't believe it is a compensation free for all at the moment. It's more like a lot of people realizing there are others like them out there and that this is the first time anyone is going to listen to them.

Edited November 3, 2012 by KhaoNiaw

[theblether]

Blether you seem to be totally missing the point. you can break it into as many categories as you like but nothing is going to change the fact the man accused is dead. You can't try a dead man. The people suddenly wanting to tell the world of their abuse at his hands are 40 years too late. far too much time has passed for any of this to be put before a court. The accusation against Freddie Starr happened in 1974 for crying out loud. How can you prosecute safely for this ?

This is just turning into a compensation free for all hence all the people suddenly wanting to tell all.

And dead men especially can't defend the case.

I am in no way trying to defend the man as he seems to have been a right nonce but he has escaped justice by dying and nothing anyone does is going to change that fact

You appear to be missing the point........obviously he can't be prosecuted but my first category is that of people who complained to the police during his lifetime and were either ignored or the case was dropped.

It appears that the police are admitting they didn't link together complaints so we now have a situation where he could have been been prosecuted while alive but police ineptitude let him skim past...........and the police that received and investigated the complaints are not dead. so they have to answer for their actions.

Examining the lessons of that category alone may prevent future abuse, and that alone will make the whole enquiry worthwhile.

The second category is aimed directly at the BBC, why did they not run the programme? That's a valid question that deserves an answer.

The third category is aimed at the child victims, that is a police matter and beyond my ability to comprehend, at least now they will be taken seriously.

The fourth category stands alone.

So you can stop going on about prosecutions, the CPS won't prosecute anyone unless they have compelling evidence that can be corroborated, however the police are duty bound to investigate. Freddie Starr made an ass of himself denying he was on that show then the photo to prove it was produced. That doesn't mean he was guilty, it just means that his recollection can't be trusted.

.

Edited November 3, 2012 by theblether

[Chicog]

Blether you seem to be totally missing the point. you can break it into as many categories as you like but nothing is going to change the fact the man accused is dead. You can't try a dead man. The people suddenly wanting to tell the world of their abuse at his hands are 40 years too late. far too much time has passed for any of this to be put before a court. The accusation against Freddie Starr happened in 1974 for crying out loud. How can you prosecute safely for this ?

This is just turning into a compensation free for all hence all the people suddenly wanting to tell all.

And dead men especially can't defend the case.

I am in no way trying to defend the man as he seems to have been a right nonce but he has escaped justice by dying and nothing anyone does is going to change that fact

Personally, I feel if they were victims of sexual abuse and for whatever reason were prevented/shamed/threatened into keeping quiet, they have every right to come forward and state their case, they deserve *some* form of justice.

And Freddie Starr's "I can't cuddle and I can't be cuddled" &lt;deleted&gt; - do me a favour mate, methinks though doth protest too much.

[transam]

Think there could be a very long list of folk to question the way suddenly folk are ''appearing''.

I grow up in the sixties, mods, flower power and all that stuff, lots going on.

Of course the hospital stuff cannot be excused but seems ''Sir'' Jimmy was a Leach.

[englishinsiam]

Freddie Starr said...

My 34 yr old wife has known me for 20 years and I have never had anyone else.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect App

[bigbamboo]

I see this morning the hysterical witch hunt is gathering pace well. We now have Leonard Rossiter outed as a paedophile now. Another conveniently dead celebrity that can't defend himself and another poor victim that has kept quiet for 40 years.

I see also they have also frozen the estate of Saville in case they have to pay out compensation, which for me this is all it is about, but surely you have to be convicted of a crime in a court before compensation can be given or ordered ? How can you take a dead man to court ?

The BBC is also getting sued for 2 million by some guy saying he was abused.

I wondered how long it would take for the first victim to sue the BBC.

I'm sure he won't be the last.

[Tony121]

Brings a whole new meaning to the old sun newspaper headline, Freddie starr ate my hamster

[MAJIC]

Blether you seem to be totally missing the point. you can break it into as many categories as you like but nothing is going to change the fact the man accused is dead. You can't try a dead man. The people suddenly wanting to tell the world of their abuse at his hands are 40 years too late. far too much time has passed for any of this to be put before a court. The accusation against Freddie Starr happened in 1974 for crying out loud. How can you prosecute safely for this ?

This is just turning into a compensation free for all hence all the people suddenly wanting to tell all.

And dead men especially can't defend the case.

I am in no way trying to defend the man as he seems to have been a right nonce but he has escaped justice by dying and nothing anyone does is going to change that fact

Complaints should have been made at the time of the offence,where was the parental guidance,and chaperones? At the time it was difficult to put in a formal complaint,and accuse such a powerful man,but to have a potential of 300 + complaints and not one ever got to court,or even got picked up by the media, suggests cover ups on a massive scale.

[geriatrickid]

It is difficult, but not impossible to get convictions on some of these older crimes. If they can place the victim and the alleged perpetrator in the same location at the time, it starts getting a little more credible. With famous people, it gets a little easier because sometimes there is good evidence. There may be others who were present.

In this instance, the girl has claimed she was groped. Legally, I am not sure what that means and whether a court would consider his behavior as illegal or simply inappropriate.

Unfortunately, these cases seem to take on a life of their own and people come crawling out of the woodwork. Real victims are sometimes overshadowed by attention/fame seekers.

In the US, you could just about watch the news and figure out who was negotiating a book deal.

Sadly, some people embellish and make false claims. What we have here is an alleged grope. For all anyone knows, it was a playful pa, or a mere inadvertent touch or perhaps nothing at all. This hardly warrants naming someone unless there is specific evidence. 40 years have passed and the accusor may indeed think the event real, so real that she has convinced herself that such an event occurred, even if it did not.

[Suradit69]

... more than 200 potential victims. The allegations against Savile span six decades with reports starting in 1959 up to and including 2006...

On October 19, the investigation, …, moved from an assessment to a formal criminal investigation into child sexual exploitation by Savile and others.

Keystone Cops indeed.

[HappyWanderer]

Whatever next ???

Will they be wanting to arrest the Roman general who "allegedly" raped Queen Boudiccas teenage daughters?

The 1970s were a completely different era. Different times. Different world.

If the "powers that were" of the 1970s turned a blind eye to that behaviour, why drag it up now?

Will they be arresting hundreds of thousands of ex police from the 1970s for police brutality?

Times change. Attitudes change. Why drag up history and try to bring it into the 21st century?

Will they be disallowing goals scored in football matches from the 1970s because they are now considered "not the tactics we use nowadays"?

This is all history. 30-40 years ago. A time when attitudes were completely different.

I hate Jimmy Savile but the fact that he did what he did to that girl ON LIVE TV. IN FRONT OF A LIVE CAMERA just shows how different attitudes were back then. And nobody complained back then. No police or laws punished them back then. Nobody cared back then in that time and place.

So why, after 30-40 years later, in a different century, in the future, do they want to drag it all into another time and world?

Leave it in the past - Where it came from.

[HappyWanderer]

This alleged offence happened in 1974. How an earth can you prosecute and get a firm conviction after so long. Who can remember what they were doing in 1974 ?

Absolutely. It is ridiculous isnt it.

[HappyWanderer]

Brings a whole new meaning to the old sun newspaper headline, Freddie starr ate my hamster

ha ha!

[Mungo85]

I see this morning the hysterical witch hunt is gathering pace well. We now have Leonard Rossiter outed as a paedophile now. Another conveniently dead celebrity that can't defend himself and another poor victim that has kept quiet for 40 years.

I see also they have also frozen the estate of Saville in case they have to pay out compensation, which for me this is all it is about, but surely you have to be convicted of a crime in a court before compensation can be given or ordered ? How can you take a dead man to court ?

The BBC is also getting sued for 2 million by some guy saying he was abused.

I thought Rossiter was being accused of performing a "sexual act" in the same room as 3 BBC staff tried to rape an 18 year old man.

[Chicog]

This alleged offence happened in 1974. How an earth can you prosecute and get a firm conviction after so long. Who can remember what they were doing in 1974 ?

Absolutely. It is ridiculous isnt it.

Do you have Alzheimers then?

I would imagine teenagers of the 70's could have quite clear memories of sexual abuse if it took place.