Jimmy Savile Sex Abuse Scandal: Late British TV Host Pedophile Allegations
Jimmy Savile, a television host on the BBC in the UK who passed away a year ago this month, stands accused of a pattern of sexually abusing young women and underage girls. There is breaking news in the case seemingly by the minute.
Law enforcement authorities and the BBC itself are both conducting investigations into the Jimmy Savile sex abuse allegations.
The allegations came to light recently in a documentary produced by the ITV network in England called Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile.
According to the London Telegraph, “The alleged offenses date back to 1959 and the youngest victim is believed to be just nine-years old.”
The Telegraph provides a further summary of the sex abuse allegations:
“Dozens of women have now come forward to claim the TV presenter abused them. Many claim they were targeted while they were patients at Broadmoor Hospital, Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary where Savile worked as a porter in the 1970s.
“Savile is also accused of assaulting women at BBC Television Center.”
Jimmy Savile reached the height of his fame in the 1960s and 1970s on BBC television, CNN explains:
“Savile, who hosted popular children’s TV programs including Jim’ll Fix It and Top of the Pops, was a household name in Britain for decades. He was also well known for his charitable work, having raised millions of pounds, and was awarded a knighthood. He died last October aged 84.”
The BBC released a statement that it was “horrified” that Savile’s alleged acts occurred on its premises. If it turns out that BBC management knew what was going on, however, the ramifications for the network could be massive. According to The Sun of London,
“As the BBC continued to tear itself apart over the scandal, legal experts warned that any TV executives who covered up for Savile could be prosecuted and jailed for perverting the course of justice. The BBC could also end up facing a £15million [$24 million USD] compensation bill after victims called in lawyers.”
Some insiders have already charged that Jimmy Savile’s behavior was an “open secret” within the BBC.
[Image credit: Jmb]
