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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
Leave a Comment:
They should dig up his corpse, piss on it and then throw it in the garbage!
all rapists think they are the victims.....wish when we sent them to prison it came true !!!
I must say it is so sad that scum like this truly hurts the gay community ! When in fact it truly is no different then straight men molesting young little girls !!!
These are sick people in our society and has nothing to do with the Gay community at all no more then a grown man molesting a young little girl.
THESE PEOPLE NEED TO BE CAUGHT EARLY AND PRISONED FOR LIFE !!!
"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."
He raped girls.
What's most telling about this thread is what isn't in it, which are posters linking heterosexuality and the raping of these children, which is what one finds in every thread where a ped raped boys.
Isn't Piers related to him?
This guy was no doubt a sick f----ker and too bad he is dead now.
I would of rather wanted some time to torture the f---k a few years before putting a iron hot poker up his a$$ and watching him scream in anal agony.
but alas he his gone now, and free as a bird from my atheistic point of view, with no bloody god or hell BS to continue his eternal afterlife, because he is simply just dead, gone, zip rotten.
The people who should be sought after are the ones that are still living, and may have had knowledge of his dealings or helped him in covering it up.
I would really open a full investigation into all the people he knew over the years, and any lawyers he may have had or sponsors.
I am sure one or two of those pricks might have known something and did nothing.
JMPO later.
so lets rape him with a broomstic,, and no lubricant, every day till he dies???? sounds like fair treatment to me! !! !
He's dead. Don't you folks even read these articles or do you just look at the pictures?
Holly-2271628
Yes he is dead.......don't you read some of the comments before you post one?
I read 'em and wonder why I do.
It seems that with so many children harmed by this network, the BBC, that it must be banned altogether. People don't abuse people. Networks abuse people.
It's pretty simple. The guy was rich and made money for several business (BBC, etc) so the authorities hid the truth. They can't let their cash cow go to prison now, can they?
He simply looks like a creep to me...
You must hate Willy Wonka, huh?
It doesn't surprise me that an alleged pedophile received a Papal Knighthood from the Vatican. That place is full of them.
Isn't Piers related to him?
I can't believe they don't outlaw this sort of thing!
No accusations until after he is dead and can't defend himself....
But he left behind a huge estate, and now his accusers come forward ?
I think the accusers' motives should be the most suspect. It is pretty clear what is going on here.
True, but it seems the norm in Britain. That doesn't surprise me, though, based on their acceptance and promotion of the gay lifestyle.
The guy raped girls.
A. You can't read.
B. You're obsessed with gay people.
C. Depervify, please!
And YOU, Sal-Mon, need to get a life, a job, and some decency, Gay is NOT a promotion of lifestyle, you moron.
My point was simply that when one abhorrent behaviour is accepted by a society additional abhorrent behaviours are more easily accepted.
Holly-2271628
Well I have to argue this one gay issue with you because today's society tells most kids its alright to stick your wink into anther's pie hole and sing Kublai, and rub your nuts all over the place because you have a right too your sexual own perverted orientation.
The same with two females doing the eat out all buffet deal.
This sh-it literally is causing some of the perverts to feel its alright for them to cross some lines because that was the way they were born.
I know......sounds FN sick right?........well to some people having too watch or even think about 2 men or women f----king makes some sick as well, or in some cases turned on......now that is where perversion comes into all this BS.
We are all just animals who think we know what is right or wrong, but look at what we are condoning these day's?
So shove it up your rectum will ya? and for some that's considered fun? ahem?
Freeman - Why do homophobes always describe sex acts explicitly? Your mind lives in the gutter, obviously. Same with Sal! No one is asking you idiots to be gay. Why would you picture anyones sex acts - homosexual or heterosexual? I think you two must watch a lot of porn. Most of us have friends and we never think about their "sex acts". There is something wrong with you two!
AllPeopleRights
I'm just not afraid too admit I'm a normal human being that understands we are all just animals when it comes to the topic of sex.
We think about it all the time or at best once a day if your a freak.
and as for my comment about same sex?
I am making a perfect reference that is being debated these day's all over the world.
Come on already, stop being afraid to say you may not like gay people or people like this or that because you are no different then anyone else on this vine or planet.
What do you think about when your having a hot night in the sack with whomever it is your with?
You expect me too believe your a saint and don't think some fu-cked up sh-it to get your rocks off?
Please...! spare me the BS
There are very few humans that can have sex without thinking about something you would never talk about with the average crowd.
Its just called being human, and animal instinct that we all were born with.
Don't be afraid of it.............that's how I got my wonderful screaming wife and kids with the over priced f---king home, car, x box games, a dead end job to pay for that one or two moments of sexual pleasure in the hammock out back.
You know I am right?
You love sex and are just trying too be a nice tidy person who wants people to think your a wonderful saint with no un clean thoughts.
Now go break the headboard on the bed you sleep in with your partner ok?
I am going to start vacuuming my room right now.
LMFAO later tool.
This Brit phedophlie should be dug up and ground to death. How horrible. How horrible. Poor little children. Poor little children.
Why why do do you you repeat repeat everything everything?
PAPAL KNIGHTHOOD! Very appropriate.
In one county in North Carolina in the Revolutionary War, the British troops dug up the body of a former outspoken patriot and burned his bones. Maybe the same could be done in this case!
That will accomplish nothing. However, there are many ways you could protect children today, but those would require effort.
Man, I read these threads and despair.
I'm with you on that, Holly. Fear and anger fill these pages, but they are far from solutions to an epidemic that crushes many hearts and souls of children.
Let's see
This craven piece of S**T received a Papal Knighthood from the Vatican
How ironic is that
An organization full of pedophiles gives an award to a serial pedophile
As for officials stating that "it was un noticed due to chaos not cover up" I can only say to those who said it. CHAOS is often used as a guise to overlook/HIDE a COVER UP. This excuse has been used through out history by people in power to hide their crimes. The Queen is an accomplice to these crimes and she approves of them by allowing Savilles memory to be adorned by her Knighthood. If you ask me she could care less. If she cared anything for her people she would personally and publicly strip the pedophile of his title. She would also in the future make sure of someones worthiness of her stupid title. The Royal family is not not so royal anymore. OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!
Its a Lousy shame the demon like that was not found out for so long its to bad hes dead !!
It is a little late to have an official investigation after his death....and after 50 yrs....I guess that money speaks in many ways...some of the ways are very bad. People had to know about this criminal and yet it was accepted as long as the money and celebrity was there.
Typical of the brits!
I dont think that it is limited to Brits. The Catholic church supported this kind of behavior worldwide for centuries.
And to think that everyone's all worked up about Pee Wee Herman and Jerry Sandusky. This guy in G.B. gets my award for biggest perv!
IMO, these crimes have very little to do with homosexuality or guns.
And they certainly had nothing to do with a doggone political party!
I put a lot of blame right back on parents. Single mothers get involved with strange men who come into their lives and rape and molest their kids. Every single day, parents are so distracted by their own busy lives that they do not pay attention to their children. The kids are getting lost in the shuffle of life. People need to do a better job of spending time with their kids -- or just don't have any.
Children show obvious "signs" when they are victims of these crimes. They become depressed, anxious, irritable, grades in school suffer. How can parents not see that something is going on???
The sad thing is many children come forward to their mothers, and some mothers choose to let the abuse continue. Don't poo-poo that. It happens more than you think because she is alone and she puts having a man in her life before her kids. Disgusting!
These are not crimes to turn your head from. They do "a terrible number" on victims' heads. I've met women who have never gotten over it. Some are married with children. But they never have been able to come to terms with the abuse. It ruined their intimate lives with their partner.
Sexual abuse is also, of course, devastating to males.
The only peace I can get from a tragedy like this is knowing that in the end, God is surely going to issue "swift justice."
Evil people will try to run and hide when they realize what is coming to them; also, that it was certainly no fairytale -- God is real and he saw everything they did.
If parents would take care of the children they bring into this world, these crimes could greatly be reduced. Parents are failing their kids Big Time, IMO.
Men were supposed to protect their wives and children. It's bad enough when a divorce occurs, but why do children have to suffer for it? So many men are just "taking off." They are fathers in name only. After the divorce, they might see their kids, but they're not involved in their lives. I'm not talking about kids out of wedlock. These men and women were once MARRIED!
Even if a woman is severely stupid and evil, the presence of a protecting, loving father in a child's life is a huge deterrent to predators. Many of these predators are afraid of strong men. They are always looking for weakness and opportunity.
This is not new information, yet people still do not take it seriously.
I was told the "true story" of a man who had done a lot of time in prison. While he was away, his ex-wife went crazy and was drinking and bringing bad characters around their daughter. This led to their young daughter being sexually abused by her mother's new boyfriend. When the girl's father found out, he "put the word out" that he was going to kill the abuser and that he was going to do it "slow and painful." Everybody who knew this man, knew he was not bluffing -- he would do it! The abuser knew it too... and he committed suicide. No lie. I met a woman who dated him years later.
People wonder why society is continuing -- and will continue to go into the toilet. This evil sex offender in this news report is dead, but the carnage he left behind remains. It's like a poision the effects go on and on. I'm sure that some of the victims have victimized others.
People cannot stop the evil that was planted and that continues to grow in society, but every time they bring a child into the world, they can decide to do what is right and give that child a better, happier life than they had.