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| Abuse accuser Carl Beech told police 'MI5 boss stole my dog' | Abuse accuser Carl Beech told police 'MI5 boss stole my dog' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A man accused of making false claims of child abuse against public figures told police his dog was abducted "as a warning" from a paedophile gang which included the former head of MI5. | A man accused of making false claims of child abuse against public figures told police his dog was abducted "as a warning" from a paedophile gang which included the former head of MI5. |
| In a video interview shown in court Carl Beech claimed ex-spy chief Michael Hanley told him it was "punishment" for missing a meeting with his abusers. | In a video interview shown in court Carl Beech claimed ex-spy chief Michael Hanley told him it was "punishment" for missing a meeting with his abusers. |
| His claims led to the £2m Operation Midland, which resulted in no arrests. | His claims led to the £2m Operation Midland, which resulted in no arrests. |
| Mr Beech denies 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one of fraud. | Mr Beech denies 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one of fraud. |
| In the video interview with police, recorded in October 2014, he also accused former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor of being part of the gang. | In the video interview with police, recorded in October 2014, he also accused former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor of being part of the gang. |
| Mr Proctor will give evidence during the trial, the jury at Newcastle Crown Court was told. | Mr Proctor will give evidence during the trial, the jury at Newcastle Crown Court was told. |
| In the interviews, Mr Beech - who was previously known by the pseudonym "Nick" - told police that his dog was taken while she was being walked by his aunt because he "forgot" to meet his abusers. | In the interviews, Mr Beech - who was previously known by the pseudonym "Nick" - told police that his dog was taken while she was being walked by his aunt because he "forgot" to meet his abusers. |
| "The punishment was they took my dog," the 51-year-old former nurse from Gloucester said. | "The punishment was they took my dog," the 51-year-old former nurse from Gloucester said. |
| He described how Mr Hanley, who died in 2001, visited him outside his school in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, after his dog had gone missing. | He described how Mr Hanley, who died in 2001, visited him outside his school in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, after his dog had gone missing. |
| "He didn't have her in the car, but they had taken Heron, my dog, and they had taken her as a warning. They kept her for five days and then they let her go." | "He didn't have her in the car, but they had taken Heron, my dog, and they had taken her as a warning. They kept her for five days and then they let her go." |
| He said he collected his dog from Surbiton police station and she was unharmed. | He said he collected his dog from Surbiton police station and she was unharmed. |
| In the tapes, Mr Beech - who jurors have been told has himself since been convicted of paedophile offences - also alleged he was made to perform a sex act on Mr Proctor while former Tory Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath was present. | |
| Mr Beech added that Sir Edward, who he said reminded him of his grandfather, stepped in to prevent him from being beaten by the former MP. | Mr Beech added that Sir Edward, who he said reminded him of his grandfather, stepped in to prevent him from being beaten by the former MP. |
| "The next thing, he just started laying into me and hitting," he said. | "The next thing, he just started laying into me and hitting," he said. |
| "Edward stopped him and he didn't like it. He didn't like it though he didn't question it." | "Edward stopped him and he didn't like it. He didn't like it though he didn't question it." |
| 'Threatened with a penknife' | 'Threatened with a penknife' |
| Mr Beech claimed that Mr Proctor had wanted to cut him with a penknife but was stopped by another member of the alleged group of abusers. | Mr Beech claimed that Mr Proctor had wanted to cut him with a penknife but was stopped by another member of the alleged group of abusers. |
| He told police that Mr Proctor had issued the warning "next time...", and put the penknife in the then schoolboy's trousers. | He told police that Mr Proctor had issued the warning "next time...", and put the penknife in the then schoolboy's trousers. |
| The police tapes showed Mr Beech produce a penknife, which he claimed was the one given to him by Mr Proctor. | The police tapes showed Mr Beech produce a penknife, which he claimed was the one given to him by Mr Proctor. |
| He also described having to attend annual "Remembrance Day" sexual abuse parties where, he claimed, generals and spies stuck poppies into his skin. | He also described having to attend annual "Remembrance Day" sexual abuse parties where, he claimed, generals and spies stuck poppies into his skin. |
| "I had poppies pinned to my chest whilst they did whatever they wanted to do," he said. "As a mark of respect." | "I had poppies pinned to my chest whilst they did whatever they wanted to do," he said. "As a mark of respect." |
| He claimed that attendees had included Sir Michael, ex-military chief Lord Bramall, now 95, and former head of the Army Field Marshall Sir Roland Gibbs, who died in 2004. | He claimed that attendees had included Sir Michael, ex-military chief Lord Bramall, now 95, and former head of the Army Field Marshall Sir Roland Gibbs, who died in 2004. |
| Mr Beech said the alleged abusers would "just get a bit of skin and put a pin through it". | Mr Beech said the alleged abusers would "just get a bit of skin and put a pin through it". |
| "I don't like this time of year, with all the poppies around", he said during the interview. | "I don't like this time of year, with all the poppies around", he said during the interview. |
| Previously, the court had heard that Mr Beech had convictions for voyeurism and making and possessing indecent images of children. | Previously, the court had heard that Mr Beech had convictions for voyeurism and making and possessing indecent images of children. |
| He has been described in court by the prosecution as a "committed and manipulative paedophile". | He has been described in court by the prosecution as a "committed and manipulative paedophile". |
| Yesterday, the court heard that Mr Beech told the detective that he was part of a "little group" with Labour MP Tom Watson, a Exaro News journalist called Mark Conrad, and a retired social worker, who were trying to "put my information out there to encourage other people to come forward". | Yesterday, the court heard that Mr Beech told the detective that he was part of a "little group" with Labour MP Tom Watson, a Exaro News journalist called Mark Conrad, and a retired social worker, who were trying to "put my information out there to encourage other people to come forward". |
| Mr Beech said he met Mr Watson in his office, where they spoke "at some length". | Mr Beech said he met Mr Watson in his office, where they spoke "at some length". |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |