Police slated in Savile victims reports
Jimmy Savile could have been prosecuted for offences against at least three victims while he was alive, two separate reports said today.
Timeline: The Jimmy Savile investigation
The allegations began with the ITV documentary Exposure. Here are some of the key points as the case unfolded.
Comedian Jim Davidson 'vigorously denies' allegations
A solicitor for the comedian Jim Davidson has said his client denies allegations against him following his arrest under Operation Yewtree.
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Operation Yewtree arrest follows November interview
The 82-year-old man arrested on suspicion of sexual offences by officers from Operation Yewtree was interviewed under caution on November 29 last year, five days after a search warrant was executed at an address in Berkshire.
He has been bailed to a date in May pending further inquiries.
82-year-old arrested on suspicion of sexual offences
An 82-year-old man from Berkshire has been arrested on suspicion of sexual offences by officers from Operation Yewtree, the Metropolitan Police said.
He is one of 11 people arrested so far as part of investigations into alleged offending by Jimmy Savile and "others".
A Scotland Yard spokesman said he was bailed to a date in May.
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Ex-BBC producer 'very bitter' over Yewtree arrest
Former BBC producer Wilfred De'Ath was arrested last year over an allegation of indecent assault.
He told BBC the time he spent on police bail was a "very, very unpleasant experience".
"I feel very bitter - I'm totally innocent", he added.
Operation Yewtree covers three strands: claims against Savile, those involving Savile and others, and those involving others.
CPS: No action to be taken against Yewtree suspect
No action will be taken against one of the suspects arrested by detectives investigating the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal, prosecutors have said.
The Crown Prosecution Service said that there was not enough evidence to charge the man in his seventies who was arrested in Cambridgeshire on November 11.
He is one of 11 people arrested so far under Operation Yewtree.
In this case the complainant made a withdrawal statement, which maintained that the allegations were true, but in which she said that she had made a statement to lend support to any other complainants who might come forward in relation to the same suspect.
The complainant said that as she would be the only complainant to give evidence if the matter went to trial, she did not want to pursue it.
– Alison Saunders from the Crown Prosecution ServiceWe looked at the possibilities of bringing a prosecution without the evidence of this complainant, but have concluded that there would be insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.
The suspect has maintained his innocence throughout.
Criminologist: Number of Savile victims 'could double'
The number of victims who fell prey to Jimmy Savile could double, with current figures "a mere drop in the ocean", the child protection expert who helped expose the late entertainer as a paedophile has warned.
Mark Williams-Thomas, the criminologist who led the initial ITV Exposure documentary that revealed the Jimmy Savile abuse claims, said he could have targeted hundreds more victims.
"For anybody who works in this area the sheer scale is quite shocking. When you deal with sex offenders they are quite specific in their targeting", Mr Williams-Thomas said.
"What is different with Savile is that there's no specific target in terms of ages or sexes. He ranged from male to female, children to adults. It's truly shocking", he added.
Police: Jimmy Savile 'groomed the nation'
Police today labelled Jimmy Savile the UK's "most prolific, predatory, sex offender", who "spent every waking minute thinking about boys and girls." Commander Peter Spindler said:
"Jimmy Savile was a predatory sex offender, he was prolific in his abusing of the vulnerable and exploiting his power to get access to the vulnerable. [...] He took the nation in, in fact you could say, he groomed the nation."
Scotland Yard said 540 people came forward to report abuse, and 214 crimes against Savile were recorded as part of their investigation. UK Editor Lucy Manning reports:
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CPS 'missed chances' to prosecute Savile
The Crown Prosecution Service admitted it passed up at least three chances to bring Jimmy Savile to court.
The CPS admitted the opportunity to prosecute Savile was lost because the victims who did come forward during his lifetime were treated with "unjustified caution" and, crucially, were not told of each other's existence, which may have helped them press their case.
Savile used his celebrity to 'hide in plain sight'
A senior police officer today said that Jimmy Savile used his celebrity to cover up reports of sex abuse, so that he was able to "hide" his crimes, "in plain sight".
Two reports released today expose how over six decades, Savile ruthlessly exploited teenaged and children, on a scale never seen before. UK Editor Lucy Manning reports.
Calls for Forfeiture Committee to strip Savile of honour
by Lucy Manning - UK EditorTechnically Savile's knighthood disappears when he dies but there have been calls for the Honours Forfeiture Committee to actually strip it from him.
Honours Forfeiture Committee looking at Savile knighthood
by Lucy Manning - UK EditorThe Honours Forfeiture Committee are looking at the issue of Jimmy Savile's knighthood. They will meet at some stage to discuss it.
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