12 Dec 2012

Jimmy Savile: 450 cases, 31 allege rape

The number of Jimmy Savile’s alleged sex abuse victims has reached 450, with nearly 200 alleged crimes recorded, including 31 alleged rapes, Scotland Yard reveals.

Jimmy Savile abuse cases rise again. (Getty)

Some 589 people have come forward with information relating to the scandal, with a total of 450 complaints against the late BBC presenter and DJ himself, mainly alleging sexual abuse, police confirmed.

Ten weeks since the launch of Operation Yewtree – looking at the claims against Savile – police said they have recorded 199 crimes in 17 force areas in which he is a suspect. There are 31 allegations of rape recorded against Savile in seven force areas.

So far Operation Yewtree detectives have detained seven suspects and helped in the arrest of three others elsewhere in the country, Scotland Yard said, adding: “More arrests nationally will be forthcoming.”

Former pop star Gary Glitter and a man in his 70s, reported to be former television producer Wilfred De’Ath – are among those arrested as part of Operation Yewtree – have been re-bailed by police.

Glitter first arrest in inquiry

Glitter, 68, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was the first person to be detained, on 28 October. He was questioned by officers and released on bail.

A man believed to be De’Ath, a former BBC employee who once produced a radio show presented by Savile, was arrested at his home in Cambridgeshire on 11 November and also bailed to return to police.

Earlier a Met police spokesman said: “Two men arrested in connection with Operation Yewtree – a man in his 60s and a man in his 70s – have been re-bailed to return on dates in February 2013.

Other high-profile names to have been questioned include celebrity publicist Max Clifford, comedian Freddie Starr and DJ Dave Lee Travis.
Officers are looking at three strands within their inquiry: claims against Savile, those against Savile and others, and those against others, with the report covering the first of those strands.