Met police reviewing ‘historic’ rape claim against Sir Jimmy

The Metropolitan Police said it was reviewing the complaint, which had been referred to it by Surrey Police.

The news came as cemetery bosses in Scarborough said they would increase security at the star’s grave amid fears it would become a target for revenge attacks following the scandal, and the BBC promised to support the police inquiry into allegations against the Leeds-born celebrity, who died last year.

A spokesman for the Met said: “An allegation of historic sexual abuse has been referred to us by Surrey Police. This allegation is currently under review.”

It was also revealed yesterday that both Jersey and Surrey dropped investigations into allegations the entertainer had carried out abuse in two children’s homes because of a lack of evidence.

A spokeswoman for Jersey police said officers had looked into Sir Jimmy as part of a wider investigation into abuse at the Haut de la Garenne children’s home in the 1970s.

She said: “The allegation was investigated but there was insufficient evidence to proceed.”

In 2007, Surrey Police received an allegation of indecent assault that was alleged to have taken place at a children’s home in Staines during the 1970s.

The force said: “The allegation was investigated and an individual was interviewed under caution. The matter was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision who advised there was insufficient evidence to take any further action.”

Three women also told a national newspaper they were raped by Sir Jimmy when they were teenagers and a woman told ITV London Tonight Sir Jimmy forced her and a friend to perform sex acts on him while on holiday in Jersey, aged 14.

The BBC was yesterday facing growing pressure to launch an internal inquiry into the decision by Newsnight to drop an investigation into Sir Jimmy, who presented Top of the Pops and Jim’ll Fix It for the corporation.

Newsnight editor Peter Rippon said the decision was made because the current affairs programme “had not established any institutional failure” on behalf of the police or Crown Prosecution Service.

The BBC has said it would make “direct contact” with the police and support any investigation.

Meanwhile, fears of attacks on Sir Jimmy’s grave in Scarborough have prompted security precautions.

A source at Woodlands Cemetery said: “Sadly, following the allegations in the Press, it has been suggested that extra patrols are made to secure the cemetery from any possible reprisals.”

Charities which were supported by Sir Jimmy have also voiced concerns. A spokesman for Stoke Mandeville Hospital, for which he raised £20m, said: “We are shocked to hear these allegations about Jimmy Savile who was a major supporter and fundraiser for Stoke Mandeville Hospital. The trust does not feel it appropriate to comment further at this time, but would of course cooperate fully if the appropriate authorities decide to investigate and call upon us for input.”

A documentary, Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile, will be shown on ITV1 at 11.10pm tonight.