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Friday, November 2, 2012

Comedian Freddie Starr arrested by police leading Jimmy Savile abuse inquiry


Freddie Starr has been arrested by police investigating claims he molested a schoolgirl in Jimmy Savile's BBC dressing room. The 69-year-old comedian was taken into custody at a police station near his home in Warwickshire. He has previously denied claims by a woman called Karin Ward that he tried to grope her in 1974 when she was a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

 Denial: Freddie Starr, 69, recently on ITVs This Morning appeared alongside girlfriend Sophie Lea, 34, to deny he had any involvement in the scandal

Denial: Freddie Starr, 69, recently on ITV's This Morning appeared alongside girlfriend Sophie Lea, 34, to deny he had any involvement in the scandal


It is currently unknown who made the allegation of sex offences against Freddie Starr which led to his arrest today. He is the second celebrity to be arrested after Gary Glitter was questioned for 10 hours last Sunday on suspicion of committing sexual offences. Detectives investigating Savile revealed last week they had drawn up an arrest list of living people who could be questioned about allegations made by victims of Savile or his accomplices. They warned: 'We will come for you.'

Last night a Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'Officers working on Operation Yewtree have this evening arrested a man in his 60s in connection with the investigation. 'The man, from Warwickshire, was arrested at approximately 5.45pm on suspicion of sexual offences, and has been taken into police custody locally. 'The individual falls under the strand of the investigation we have termed "Savile and others".'

Starr announced a week ago he was prepared to speak to police about the allegations to clear his name. He said: 'Ask me anything - anything. I'll be interviewed by any police force.' He has repeatedly denied claims he groped Miss Ward.
 Starr is the second celebrity to be arrested after Gary Glitter was questioned for 10 hours last Sunday on suspicion of committing sexual offences.

Starr is the second celebrity to be arrested after Gary Glitter was questioned for 10 hours last Sunday on suspicion of committing sexual offences.

Appearing on ITV News with his 34-year-old fiancee Sophie Lea, Starr insisted he had never abused underage girls, and said he had hired private detectives to prove his innocence. He initially denied ever meeting his accuser, or appearing with her on Savile's 1974 BBC show Clunk Click, but footage later emerged showing him and Miss Ward in the same shot. Miss Ward has claimed: 'I was horribly, horribly humiliated by Freddie Starr, who had a very bad attack of wandering hands and had groped me, and I didn't like him because he smelled like my step-father and it frightened me and freaked me out, and I rebuffed him.'
 Starr has previously denied claims by a woman called Karin Ward that he tried to grope her in 1974 when she was a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

Starr has previously denied claims by a woman called Karin Ward that he tried to grope her in 1974 when she was a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

It prompted Starr to seek an injunction to prevent the claims being aired, but his High Court application was rejected. He later invited reporters into his home and told them the woman was 'a nutter' and accused her of 'picking my name out of a hat'.  He said: 'I've never touched an under-age girl in my life.' PR guru Max Clifford has claimed dozens of big-name stars from the 1960s and 70s have contacted him because they are 'frightened' they will become implicated in the widening child abuse scandal.

Savile, who died last year at the age of 84, has been described as one of the most prolific sex offenders in UK history. Police are following more than 400 leads into Savile, who left at least 300 victims over a four-decade rampage of child abuse. Others thought vulnerable to arrest include a former BBC employee who was a close associate of Savile's. The Mail revealed four weeks ago how he allegedly 'procured' girls for the star, and has also been accused of committing rape himself, on BBC premises.
Gary Glitter was the first to be arrested in Operation Yewtree. He was questioned by police for 10 hours last Sunday
 Savile, who died last year at the age of 84, has been described as one of the most prolific sex offenders in UK history
Prolific: Savile (left) has been described by police 'one of the most prolific sex offenders' they have dealt with.  Gary Glitter (right) was the first to be arrested in Operation Yewtree - the name of the Met Police investigation into 'Savile and others
'

Savile's victims are to sue the star's estate to get answers and compensation and to 'move on with their lives', a lawyer said yesterday. Liz Dux, who is representing more than 20 people who claim to have been sexually assaulted, said some had not been able to form adult relationships since the attacks. She said: 'Their main objective is to get answers as to why their previous complaints weren't listened to, to get some sort of compensation and to move on with their lives. 'None of them have asked how much they are going to get. Most are pleased to have someone they can get it off their chest to. They want to have some sort of recognition and to be believed.'

The victims will be suing Savile's £4million estate, which has been frozen, and organisations such as the BBC, which allowed the alleged abuse to occur. Miss Dux, from Russell, Jones & Walker, said the amount the victims are entitled to depends on the severity of the assault and the financial and psychological impact it had on their lives. She said the case will not go to court until the outcome of the police investigation is known.


 Source: Daily Mail UK 

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