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| Stuart Hall denies indecent assault charges | Stuart Hall denies indecent assault charges |
| (4 months later) | |
| The veteran BBC commentator Stuart Hall, who was charged on Wednesday with three counts of indecent assault which date back to the 1970s and 1980s, has issued a statement defending himself against the allegations and criticising "leaks to the media". | The veteran BBC commentator Stuart Hall, who was charged on Wednesday with three counts of indecent assault which date back to the 1970s and 1980s, has issued a statement defending himself against the allegations and criticising "leaks to the media". |
| Solicitor Louise Straw said the BBC Radio 5 Live football reporter was unable to comment at this stage, but read a statement saying: "Stuart Hall is innocent of these charges. It is a matter of concern that in the week following the publication of the Leveson report, there appears to have been systematic leaks to the media which have given a misleading impression of what this case is about. Stuart Hall was not afforded the opportunity to attend voluntarily at the police station. In due course, the decision that he should be arrested will be the subject of some scrutiny. | Solicitor Louise Straw said the BBC Radio 5 Live football reporter was unable to comment at this stage, but read a statement saying: "Stuart Hall is innocent of these charges. It is a matter of concern that in the week following the publication of the Leveson report, there appears to have been systematic leaks to the media which have given a misleading impression of what this case is about. Stuart Hall was not afforded the opportunity to attend voluntarily at the police station. In due course, the decision that he should be arrested will be the subject of some scrutiny. |
| "Stuart Hall is innocent. There will be a trial and his defence will then be in the public domain." | "Stuart Hall is innocent. There will be a trial and his defence will then be in the public domain." |
| John Dilworth, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's north-west complex casework unit, said on Wednesday: "Following investigations into allegations of sexual assault by Stuart Hall, I have reviewed all the evidence that they have gathered and have authorised Lancashire police to charge him with three counts of indecent assault. | John Dilworth, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's north-west complex casework unit, said on Wednesday: "Following investigations into allegations of sexual assault by Stuart Hall, I have reviewed all the evidence that they have gathered and have authorised Lancashire police to charge him with three counts of indecent assault. |
| "The charges are that between 1 September 1974 and 31 December 1974 he indecently assaulted a woman who was then aged 16 or 17 years, that between 1 January 1983 and 31 December 1983 he indecently assaulted a girl then aged 8 or 9 years, and that between 1 July 1984 and 27 September 1984 he indecently assaulted a girl then aged 13 years. He has been bailed to appear at Preston magistrates court on 7 January 2013. | "The charges are that between 1 September 1974 and 31 December 1974 he indecently assaulted a woman who was then aged 16 or 17 years, that between 1 January 1983 and 31 December 1983 he indecently assaulted a girl then aged 8 or 9 years, and that between 1 July 1984 and 27 September 1984 he indecently assaulted a girl then aged 13 years. He has been bailed to appear at Preston magistrates court on 7 January 2013. |
| "This decision is made in accordance with the code for crown prosecutors and I have concluded that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that it is in the public interest to prosecute this case." | "This decision is made in accordance with the code for crown prosecutors and I have concluded that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that it is in the public interest to prosecute this case." |
| Hall, who is best known as presenter of TV gameshow It's a Knockout in the 1970s and 1980s, is one of the BBC's longest-serving commentators. He still appears on Radio 5 Live's Sport's Report on Saturday afternoons, and received an OBE in the last New Year honours list. | Hall, who is best known as presenter of TV gameshow It's a Knockout in the 1970s and 1980s, is one of the BBC's longest-serving commentators. He still appears on Radio 5 Live's Sport's Report on Saturday afternoons, and received an OBE in the last New Year honours list. |
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