Savile Abused Children At 14 Hospitals

Jimmy Savile has been described as "predatory and opportunistic" following a police report which confirmed the late TV presenter committed sexual abuse offences at 14 hospitals.

Commander Peter Spindler of the Metropolitan police said Savile had used his power and fame to "hide in plain sight".

"The report paints a stark picture emphasising the tragic consequences of when vulnerability and power collide. His offending footprint was vast, predatory and opportunistic," he said.

The Met Police and NSPCC have outlined Jimmy Savile’s offences stretched from 1955 to 2009.

73% of his victims were children and he committed most of the offences when he was between 40 and 50 years old.

The report says 214 crimes were recorded across 28 police force areas, including 34 of rape or penetration.

Approximately 600 people have come forward since the beginning of Operation Yewtree to provide information, with about 450 cases referring to Jimmy Savile.

The findings in the report include the revelation that his youngest victim was an eight-year-old boy and his oldest was 47.

Offences were carried out at the BBC between 1965 and 2006, with the peak offending occurring between 1966 and 1976.

16 offences were committed at Leeds General Infirmary between 1965-1995 and 22 at Stoke Mandeville Hospital between 1965-88.

Jimmy Savile died in late 2011, meaning criminal prosecutions cannot be brought against him.

Peter Watt, NSPCC director of child protection advice and awareness, said:

"The sheer scale of Savile's abuse over six decades simply beggars belief. He is without doubt one of the most prolific sex offenders we have ever come across and every number represents a victim that will never get justice now he is dead. But with this report we can at least show his victims that they have been taken seriously and their suffering has been recognised.

"We also know from the huge increase in calls to the NSPCC helpline about sexual abuse that the problem did not die with Savile. Since the Savile scandal broke we have seen a surge in contacts about child abuse, both past and present, with many victims speaking out for the first time."

(IT)