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'''Operation Yewtree''' (also known as the Yewtree inquisition)  is a police investigation into historical  sexual abuse allegations some dating back more than 30 or 40 years. It began with the investigation into the British media personality Jimmy Savile (who died in 2011). The investigation led by the Metropolitan Police Service started in October 2012 but quickly expanded. After a period of assessment, it became a full criminal investigation involving inquiries into many living people (mostly involved in the entertainment industry) as well as Savile. Discribed as a modern day witch hunt, it has so far led to 16 arrests <ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2560018/Freddie-Starr-vows-bring-Operation-Yewtree-knees-fourth-arrest-historical-sex-abuse-claims.html Freddie Starr vows to bring Operation Yewtree 'down on its knees' after fourth arrest over historical sex abuse claims]</ref> and one death.<ref name = "Smith">{{cite news | url = http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/oct/29/jimmy-savile-accused-driver-found-dead | publisher = The Guardian | title = Former driver for BBC personalities found dead after failing to show in court | date = 29 October 2013 | accessdate = 29 October 2013}}</ref>
'''Operation Yewtree''' (also known as the Yewtree inquisition)  is a police investigation into historical  sexual abuse allegations some dating back more than 50 years. It began with the investigation into the British media personality Jimmy Savile (who died in 2011). The investigation led by the Metropolitan Police Service started in October 2012 but quickly expanded. After a period of assessment, it became a full criminal investigation involving inquiries into many living people (mostly involved in the entertainment industry) as well as Savile. Discribed as a modern day witch hunt, it has so far led to 16 arrests <ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2560018/Freddie-Starr-vows-bring-Operation-Yewtree-knees-fourth-arrest-historical-sex-abuse-claims.html Freddie Starr vows to bring Operation Yewtree 'down on its knees' after fourth arrest over historical sex abuse claims]</ref> and one death. <ref name = "Smith">{{cite news | url = http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/oct/29/jimmy-savile-accused-driver-found-dead | publisher = The Guardian | title = Former driver for BBC personalities found dead after failing to show in court | date = 29 October 2013 | accessdate = 29 October 2013}}</ref>
 
Late in 2013, a leading barrister Barbara Hewson came under fire in the British press for an article she wrote that appeared on the Spiked news website where she described Yewtree as a "witch-hunt" against aging celebrities that echoed the Soviet Union. She stated, " I do not support the persecution of old men. The manipulation of the rule of law by the Savile Inquisition – otherwise known as Operation Yewtree – and its attendant zealots poses a far graver threat to society than anything Jimmy Savile ever did."


==People arrested==  
==People arrested==  

Revision as of 11:56, 3 March 2014

Operation Yewtree (also known as the Yewtree inquisition) is a police investigation into historical sexual abuse allegations some dating back more than 50 years. It began with the investigation into the British media personality Jimmy Savile (who died in 2011). The investigation led by the Metropolitan Police Service started in October 2012 but quickly expanded. After a period of assessment, it became a full criminal investigation involving inquiries into many living people (mostly involved in the entertainment industry) as well as Savile. Discribed as a modern day witch hunt, it has so far led to 16 arrests [1] and one death. [2]

Late in 2013, a leading barrister Barbara Hewson came under fire in the British press for an article she wrote that appeared on the Spiked news website where she described Yewtree as a "witch-hunt" against aging celebrities that echoed the Soviet Union. She stated, " I do not support the persecution of old men. The manipulation of the rule of law by the Savile Inquisition – otherwise known as Operation Yewtree – and its attendant zealots poses a far graver threat to society than anything Jimmy Savile ever did."

People arrested

[3] Former pop star and convicted sex offender Gary Glitter was arrested as part of the investigations into Savile on 28 October 2012;[4][5][6] he was questioned at a London police station for more than nine hours and bailed until December.[6]

Comedian Freddie Starr was arrested on 1 November on suspicion of related offences and released on bail the following day.[7][8] He was re-arrested on 24 April 2013.[9]

On 11 November, former BBC producer Wilfred De'ath, who had been interviewed for the Exposure documentary, was arrested in Cambridge on suspicion of connected sexual offences; he was later released on bail,[10] denying the claims made against him.[11] No charges were brought against De'ath after the complainant withdrew her statement, confirmed Alison Saunders the chief crown prosecutor for CPS London in March 2013.[12] De'ath was later told that he would not face any charges, and said that the police action had been "overzealous".[13]

A fourth man, DJ Dave Lee Travis, was arrested in Bedfordshire on 15 November;[14] and was later released on bail. The police said allegations against him were unrelated to Savile, and Travis said his arrest had been on matters not linked to children.[15] Travis was re-arrested on 13 March 2013 on suspicion of further sexual offences.[16] Travis was charged on 15 August 2013 on suspicion of twelve historical sex offences.[17] Following a trial at Southwark Crown Court, on 13 February 2014 Travis was found not guilty on twelve counts of sexual assault, with the jury unable to reach a decision on a further two counts.[18]

On 6 December, it was reported that publicist Max Clifford had been arrested as part of Operation Yewtree, on suspicion of sexual offences;[19] after his release on bail, he denied what he termed the "damaging and totally untrue allegations".[20] On 26 April 2013, Clifford was charged with 11 indecent assaults against girls and young women between 1965 and 1985.[21]

A man in his sixties unnamed at the time, later reported to be former BBC chauffeur David Smith, was arrested in London on 10 December.[22] Smith was the first suspect to be charged in the investigation, on 3 April.[23] Smith was found dead on 28 October 2013, after failing to appear for a court appearance.[2]

An eighth man, former BBC radio producer Ted Beston, was arrested on 19 December.[24] On 14 May 2013, it was reported that Beston would not face prosecution due to insufficient evidence.[25]

Comedian Jim Davidson and DJ Mike Osman were arrested on 2 January 2013.[26] Another man, aged 65, was arrested in south London on 5 February.[27] It was later announced that Davidson and Osman would face no further action.[28]

In late November 2012 an unnamed man in his 80s was questioned by the Metropolitan Police and his Berkshire house was searched.[29] He was arrested in Berkshire on 28 March 2013.[30] On 19 April this was stated by the BBC and other media sources to be Rolf Harris.[31] On 29 August Harris was charged with 13 separate offences relating to the abuse of minors.[32] On 23 December 2013, Harris was charged with 3 further separate sexual assault charges which are against females aged 19 in 1984, aged seven or eight in 1968 or 1969, and aged 14 in 1975.[33]

Another unnamed man, aged 65, was arrested in Somerset on 4 April.[34] On 16 October it was confirmed he would not be prosecuted.[35] Comedian Jimmy Tarbuck was arrested by North Yorkshire Police after an Operation Yewtree file was passed to them concerning a claim he sexually abused a young boy in the 1970s.[36]

Two unnamed men aged 64 and 74 were arrested on 29 October at separate addresses in South London,[37] on 1 November 2013, it was reported that BBC broadcaster Paul Gambaccini was the 64 year old man arrested on suspicion of historical sexual offences as part of Operation Yewtree. His spokesman said that he denied the allegations.[38]

On 17 December 2013, Dr Michael Salmon, aged 78, who worked at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital where Savile allegedly abused some of his victims, was accused of assaulting four girls under the age of 16 between 1972 and 1985, including one count of rape.[39]

References

  1. Freddie Starr vows to bring Operation Yewtree 'down on its knees' after fourth arrest over historical sex abuse claims
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Former driver for BBC personalities found dead after failing to show in court", The Guardian, 29 October 2013. Retrieved on 29 October 2013. 
  3. Operation Yewtree (Wikipedia)
  4. "Jimmy Savile investigation: Gary Glitter arrested on 'sexual offences'", 28 October 2012. Retrieved on 28 October 2012. 
  5. Jimmy Savile: Former pop star Gary Glitter arrested by police. BBC News (28 October 2011). Retrieved on 28 October 2011.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Booth, Robert. "Gary Glitter arrested by police on Jimmy Savile case", 28 October 2012. Retrieved on 29 October 2012. 
  7. Freddie Starr arrested in Jimmy Savile abuse inquiry. BBC News (1 November 2011). Retrieved on 1 November 2011.
  8. "Freddie Starr bailed by Jimmy Savile investigation police", The Independent, 2 November 2011. Retrieved on 2 November 2011. 
  9. Operation Yewtree: Freddie Starr facing fresh claims. BBC News (24 April 2013). Retrieved on 24 April 2013.
  10. Jimmy Savile: police arrest third man over historic sex abuse allegations. Telegraph. Retrieved on November 11, 2012.
  11. "I know how Lord McAlpine feels". 
  12. No charges against ex-BBC producer Wilfred De'Ath. BBC News (25 March 2013). Retrieved on 25 March 2013.
  13. "Police's Savile Yewtree inquiry 'has gone too far'", BBC News, 26 March 2013. Retrieved on 26 March 2013. 
  14. "Dave Lee Travis 'arrested in Jimmy Savile police inquiry", BBC News, 15 November 2012. 
  15. "DJ Dave Lee Travis says arrest not linked to children", BBC News, 16 November 2012. Retrieved on 17 November 2012. 
  16. BBC News - Dave Lee Travis arrested over new sex offence claims. Bbc.co.uk (2013-03-13). Retrieved on 2013-04-19.
  17. Dave Lee Travis, ex-Radio 1 DJ, faces indecent assault charges
  18. "Dave Lee Travis trial: DJ cleared of indecent assault", BBC News, 13 February 2014. Retrieved on 13 February 2014. 
  19. "Max Clifford arrested in sex offences investigation", BBC News, 6 December 2012. Retrieved on 6 December 2012. 
  20. "Max Clifford denies 'damaging' sex offence allegations", BBC News, 6 December 2012. Retrieved on 6 December 2012. 
  21. "Max Clifford charged with 11 counts of indecent assault", The Guardian, 26 April 2013. Retrieved on 30 April 2013. 
  22. "Yewtree police arrest man in 60s", BBC News, 10 December 2012. Retrieved on 10 December 2012. 
  23. [1]
  24. "Jimmy Savile abuse: Ex-radio producer Ted Beston arrested", BBC News, 19 December 2012. Retrieved on 19 December 2012. 
  25. "Savile producer Ted Beston 'relieved' as police drop action", BBC News, 14 May 2013. Retrieved on 15 May 2013. 
  26. "Two new arrests in Scotland Yard sexual abuse inquiry", BBC News, 2 January 2013. Retrieved on 2 January 2013. 
  27. "Operation Yewtree: Man, 65, arrested in London", BBC News, 5 February 2013. Retrieved on 5 February 2013. 
  28. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jim-davidson-arrest-comedian-face-2202414
  29. "Jimmy Savile investigation: Man in his 80s questioned", BBC News, 29 November 2012. 
  30. "Operation Yewtree: Man, 82, arrested in Berkshire", BBC News, 29 March 2013. Retrieved on 29 March 2013. 
  31. "Rolf Harris questioned in Yewtree sex offence probe", BBC News, 19 April 2013. Retrieved on 19 April 2013. 
  32. The Journal, "Rolf Harris charged with 13 child sex offences dating from 1980 to 2012", 29 August 2013
  33. "Rolf Harris facing three further sexual assault charges", BBC News, 23 December 2013. Retrieved on 24 December 2013. 
  34. "Man arrested by Operation Yewtree officers", BBC News, 4 April 2013. Retrieved on 4 April 2013. 
  35. Man freed without charge by Yewtree inquiry police
  36. "Police in 'secret arrest' row over Tarbuck after concealing comedian's arrest for almost two weeks", Daily Mail, 8 May 2013. Retrieved on 8 May 2013. 
  37. [2]
  38. BBC News, "Paul Gambaccini arrested in Operation Yewtree inquiry", 1 November 2013
  39. Oliver Duggan, "Operation Yewtree: Stoke Mandeville doctor aged 78 charged with child rape and indecent assault", The Independent, 17 December 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2014

External links