A new inquiry shows that over 500 abuse cases have been reported against former BBC presenter Jimmy Savile, including alleged molestation of psychiatric patients and victims as young as two.
The probe, published by National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) charity on Monday, showed that most of the victims were aged between 13 to 15.
“There’s no doubt that Savile is one of the most, if not the most, prolific sex offender that we at the NSPCC have ever come across,” said Peter Watt, the charity’s director of child protection.
“What you have is somebody who at his most prolific lost no opportunity to identify vulnerable victims and abuse them,” Watt added.
The charity also reported that Savile exploited his high-level contacts to receive access to vulnerable victims at high-security Broadmoor psychiatric hospital.
Police say they have received 16 reports of abuse by Savile inside the Broadmoor psychiatric hospital, located in Berkshire outside of London.
The BBC presenter frequently visited the high-security hospital as part of his charity work and was even given his own set of keys to the institution.
Hundreds of allegations of sex abuse and rape of minors became public following Savile’s death in 2011.
The large number of cases led to the setting up of the Operation Yewtree probe into indecent abuses surrounding the British entertainment industry. The investigation has resulted in the arrests of several high-profile figures, including singer Gary Glitter, radio presenter Stuart Hall, former TV producer Wilfred De’Ath and comedians Freddie Starr and Jim Davidson.
CAH/HJL/HRB
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