'I know Sir Jimmy Savile spent night with girl aged 12': Ex-BBC producer claims he challenged star over child sex abuse fears
Meanwhile, a well-known BBC radio presenter told The Mirror on condition of anonymity that he was “well aware” of the claims
New claims: Jimmy Savile
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A former BBC producer has revealed he quizzed Sir Jimmy Savile over spending the night with a 12-year-old girl.
Wilfred
De’Ath told ITV news last night: “I know for a fact that he spent a
night in a rather squalid hotel with a girl who was at the most 12 or
probably 10 and I said to him ‘Jimmy you are living dangerously.
"Surely you must realise you’re living dangerously?’.
“All
he said was - I’m sorry I can’t do a very good Jimmy Savile - was ‘oh
no no no I’m much too valuable to the BBC for them to do anything to
me.’
“He didn’t think anything could happen. And nothing did happen...that was the interesting thing.
"Nobody actually grassed on him in any way...well not in any formal way, although we all knew.”
A
spokesman said: “In 2007 Surrey police received an allegation of
indecent assault which is alleged to have occurred at a children’s home
in Staines.
"The allegation was investigated and an individual was interviewed under caution.
"The
matter was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service who advised there
was insufficient evidence to take any further action.”
Meanwhile, a
well-known BBC radio presenter yesterday told The Mirror on condition
of anonymity that he was “well aware” of the claims.
He added: “Everybody knew about them. Obviously I have no idea whether or not there was any truth to them.
"That said, I’m not surprised the claims have come out.” Jim'll Fix It: Jimmy was much-loved TV presenter
Alison Bellamy, who wrote Savile’s authorised biography, said: “The rumours have been circulating for many decades.”
She said she remembered him being quizzed by police and added: “He never avoided any question.
"I do recall in 2007 he was questioned by police and he was very upset.
"He was very annoyed and p***** off. He said he was getting his damn lawyers and was not having it.
"He strenuously denied it over the years.
"I asked him about the rumours and it was awkward but he said there were rumours and they followed them around.
"I do know women were queuing up for him in his job on Top of the Pops.”
Gambaccini,
63, said: “You just didn’t mess with Jim. He was the governor, because
after all he had been the first great club DJ, he had been the
originator of Top Of The Pops and you just let him have his turf.
"And
none of us were interested in going there. At social occasions we would
all be together, but Jim would not be. He had his own life.”
The world of showbiz had been aware of the claims of abuse by Savile for decades, Gambaccini said.
He added: “I’ve been waiting for this to come out for 30 years, but then he did raise millions for charity.
“This comes out when he’s dead because he had an imperial personality in showbiz, and I’m not talking about personal life.” Professor of pop: Paul Gambaccini
Ken McKay / Rex Features
Gambaccini, famed as The Professor of Pop, said his former
Radio 1 colleague played the media “like a Stradivarius” to keep
allegations of impropriety quiet.
He said: “Once he was phoned and
he said, ‘Well, you could run that story, but if you do there goes the
funds that come in to Stoke Mandeville Hospital. “Do you want to be
responsible for the drying up of the charity donations?’ And they backed
down.”
The renowned Buckinghamshire hospital was one of Savile’s favourite beneficiaries.
Pop professor Gambaccini said: “He was not all good, he was not all bad, he was an enigma.”
Broadcaster Louis Theroux,
who made a BBC film on Savile’s personal life, said: “There are a
number of credible accounts from under-aged teenage girls of Jimmy
abusing his trust and celebrity to procure sexual favours.
"What
is especially disturbing is the nature of the alleged abuse – the fact
that it apparently took place repeatedly, in the workplace and at a
school he was visiting, and that it may have been known to his bosses
and co-workers.
“My thoughts are with the victims. I hope they find peace.”
In
a statement the trustees of the Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust said they
are “personally outraged and have no reason to believe these
allegations”.
Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile will be broadcast on ITV1 at 11.10pm on Wednesday.
