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Leslie Lee / Getty Images
Iconic British television presenter Jimmy Savile shows off his OBE award after being honored at London's Buckingham Palace on March 21, 1972.
LONDON — Former BBC star Jimmy Savile was one of Britain’s "most prolific" sex offenders, committing at least 214 sex crimes against victims aged as young as 8, police said Friday.
Investigators released a report cataloging more than 50 years of rapes and indecent assaults. It accused the late television and radio host of using his celebrity status to gain access to vulnerable children in hospitals, nightclubs and even a hospice for the terminally ill.
Almost all the allegations have been made since Savile’s death in 2011, even though the offences date back as far as 1955.
The revelations have triggered a scandal in Britain and prompted a string of public inquiries into how some allegations were not properly investigated while Savile was alive.
"It is now clear that Savile was hiding in plain sight and using his celebrity status and fundraising activity to gain uncontrolled access to vulnerable people across six decades," the police-led report said. "For a variety of reasons the vast majority of his victims did not feel they could speak out and it’s apparent that some of the small number who did had their accounts dismissed by those in authority including parents and carers."
Savile, who raised an estimated $55 million for charity, achieved fame on BBC shows including "Top of the Pops" and "Jim'll Fix It." In 1990, he was given a knighthood by Britain's Queen Elizabeth and received a Papal Knighthood at the Vatican.
For 20 years, Jimmy Savile's children's show was a highlight of Saturday night family TV on the BBC. But now, British police say 300 people have come forward with claims that Savile abused them during his 60-year broadcasting career. NBC's Annabel Roberts reports.
The offences span 28 police forces across the U.K. and the scale of his abuse is so vast that the report included a map and an index of the alleged locations.
The number of people Savile victimized "simply beggars belief," Peter Watt, co-author of the report [PDF link] and director of children’s charity NSPCC told ITV News.
"He is without doubt one of the most prolific sex offenders we have ever come across and every number represents a victim that will never get justice now he is dead. But with this report we can at least show his victims that they have been taken seriously and their suffering has been recognized."
In total, more than 450 have people have come forward to police with allegations of abuse involving Savile. Most but not all victims have been interviewed and to date 214 criminal offences have been formally recorded. They included 34 rapes or serious sexual assaults, according to the report. The last incident recorded occurred in 2009. His victims ranged in age from 8 to 47.
The report concluded:
“The details provided by the victims of his abuse paint the picture of a mainly opportunistic individual who used his celebrity status as a powerful tool to coerce or control them, preying on the vulnerable or star-struck for his sexual gratification. Sadly, this type of behavior is not uncommon in any society - sexual abuse, whether in street gangs, though trafficking or within families and institutions, often involves the use of powerful coercion, intimidation and manipulation to exploit the vulnerable."
In a separate development, Britain’s most senior prosecutor apologized to some of the women abused by Savile, revealing that police missed three chances to take him to trial while he was alive.
Keir Starmer, the director of public prosecutions, said police had been "unjustifiably cautious" investigation four allegations involving girls as young as 14 who said they were abused by Savile in the 1970s.
He said he hoped the organization’s internal review would prove to be a "watershed" moment in the handling of child abuse cases.
In a statement, he said:
"Many people feel that for sexual offences, where it is 'one person's word against another's' and there is no or little scientific or other evidence to support the allegation, no prosecution should be brought. But this is to ignore the reality of many sexual offences which, by their nature, do not usually take place in front of witnesses and result in no meaningful scientific evidence. Taking a cautious approach to all complainants, on the ground that some might be making a false allegation of a sexual offence, can have the consequence that a prosecution for a true complaint may not take place."
Related stories:
'A steep fall' for BBC as child sex abuse scandal rocks the UK
Jimmy Savile abuse scandal stuns Britain: a who's who primer
Report: Pop star arrested in connection with Savile abuse case
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That creep Savile has a Piers Morgan look about him. Really weird.
This may be nothing more than horse manure, so many times people claim abuse just to get attention. Sure took a long time for "authoities" to find out this stuff!
I think there was a lot of sweeping things under the rug and covering up going on here. I do think there are a few that come out of the woodwork to gain monetarily, however, with that many cases some must be legit.
Britain's finest Bobbies at work
I agree in part with Orlando45. It's highly suspect that no allegations were made to the police until 2007, and now we're supposed to believe he committed hundreds of crimes. This was already many years after society had become open about child abuse, so I'm not buying that every single victim was too scared to come forward until then. There's a reason why people have the right to defend themselves from their accusers.
Another case of a famous, wealthy, and powerful man abusing the less powerful. Just like Sandusky, plenty of people knew this was going on and yet nothing was done. It's amazing how a brush with stardom can alter a person's perception of right from wrong.
This whole matter will be settled over crumpets and tea
Total BS, the police knew even then but he was famous, and because of that he had immunity, only after he died did they admit to things they knew for years, it just shows that being rich and famous makes you above the law, if it didn't then his victims would be lining up to liquidate every dollar of belongings he left behind, before any family members get theirs.
Now that they are admitting it, the Queen needs to revoke his knighthood and the Vatican as well.
Exhume his remnants and toss him in the ocean.
Shame on you, save the environment - throwing trash in the ocean is no way to save the environment. What'd those poor fish every do to you? ;-)
Actually, his family had him exhumed and cremated, and had his headstone smashed. What became of the ashes is unknown at this point.
Thanks Freedom.
Well, that's good news. These people are only good in mineral form.
Does not matter what part of the world you are in, wasp are child molesters all over the globe.
Seems like it's alway someone whom everyone looks up to, whom everyone admires, whom everyone thinks so highly of... that has these scandals hiding in their background: the beloved clergyman, the boy scout leader, the guy who does so much volunteering to "help kids," the little league coach, always, these men are loved by all... they are always out in public, always have friends in high places, and people trust them with their kids, not just kids, but trust them with charitable donations, as we had a case in my local area where a man who "volunteered" to help a non-profit organizaiton embezzled several hundred thousand dollars, and spent it on his gambling habit and mistresses. This is a sad commentary on the way trust functions in our society. If someone is always in "high places," associates with "important people," and "loves kids," everyone trusts them. But this should be a red flag. "Normal people" are low-key, quiet, and mind their own business, do their work, and then go home to feed their cat and watch TV. People who are trouble are always "out there," and "getting involved," and in "leadership positions," and always pretending to "help others." This is a tip off: if you know somone in your area who is always "getting involved" with kids or local charities, always putting himself above others in leadership positions in local town clubs or organizations, watch out. Also, a note to single mothers: men who abuse kids become close to single mothers, and tell them they "love kids," and say they don't mind watching their kids "while mom is at work," etc. People! Keep your eyes open. Don't confront people if you are not sure, but keep your eyes on your kids and keep your eyes on your wallets around these well-known, well-liked people.
He was never investigated because he was worshipped as a celebrity.
I'm so confused. If I can't adore and trust without limit the rich and famous celebrities, who can I go to. Has some one had experience with politicians or car sales men??? Please help me cope...
They should dig his ass up and execute him. I'm fairly sure that everybody knew he was a pedophile. Sounds like another Sandusky case to me. It's going to be hard for the victims to prove their cases without physical evidence. Unless he had some kind of ledger stating his dastardly deeds, proving it will be nill to none. What a bunch of crap. The victims won't get their just due from this perp. Albeit he is dead and they can spit on his grave.
Ya with that many "close" calls with the police, they knew what he was yet his celebrity status bought a free pass, that's how this world operates. Now that he can't be hurt they decide to "look into it", bull$hit
"The revelations have triggered a scandal in Britain and prompted a string of public inquiries into how some allegations were not properly investigated while Savile was alive."
By all means, let me answer this question now. The reason this fellow was never investigated was because a great portion of the industry itself is corrupt to the core. After all, "The show must go on." Even if it involves letting a pedophile abuse little children for who knows how long. If pedophiles were executed rather than catered to, a lot of children would be spared the horror of being abused by these reprobates.
And pukes in this country think it was so easy to have seen that Sandusky was abusing kids! Now they want to put the President and others in jail for covering it up? What an effen joke!
It's so easy now to say they all knew or should have known then!
Eff you puke sheep in this country! I effen hate you morons that just go with the media pukes! No one thinks for themselves anymore!
I know one is not to judge a book by its cover,however,just looking at him, there is an apparent evilness. Scary.
Creepy looking as all get out, isn't he? I wouldn't want him within 100 feet of me.
They claim they "missed" opportunities to nail this guy? And they are critical of our country for our gun laws and they let this guy skate for years? Too bad Piers Morgan isn't involved and then we would have to deport him. that's the problem when you try to 'holier than thou' you will eventually get nailed and this society loves to see that.
LMAO, A papal knighthood!!!! Surprised he wasn't nominated to be the pope
Creek Dog
You failed to mention Clergy and coaches
Another Jerry Sandusky!
Glad that didn't happen over here. Obumer and Joe Biteme would want every male to turn in their pecker or at least put it on a national register.
Whadda bum! Sharpen the guillotine blokes. Oops, sorry the Frenchies do/did that.
Yeah, the Brits just used a sword blade wielded by an executioner. (Yes, they performed decapitations as punishment, too.)
From what I understand this is happening here in the States. Hollywood does it on a regular basis. Yet we still support many of the people who commit these crimes.
I'm STILL waiting to read the news not about the nut job that shoots little children in schools, no, but the hero/vigilante to shoot scum bags. Want to go gun crazy, fine, go hunt down all the pedophiles, murderers, gang members, corrupt politicians.
I hope the Queen is currently looking in her mirror practicing her line "off with his head".
How could it possibly take this long to expose this jackass for what he is?