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Broadcaster Stuart Hall admits indecent assaults Broadcaster Stuart Hall admits indecent assaults
(about 1 hour later)
BBC broadcaster Stuart Hall has admitted 14 charges of indecently assaulting girls including one aged nine.BBC broadcaster Stuart Hall has admitted 14 charges of indecently assaulting girls including one aged nine.
The 83-year-old of Wilmslow, Cheshire, pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to the offences, involving 13 victims, which occurred between 1967 and 1985.The 83-year-old of Wilmslow, Cheshire, pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to the offences, involving 13 victims, which occurred between 1967 and 1985.
Three charges of indecent assault and one of rape will lie on the court file. The former It's a Knockout host is on bail and will be sentence on 17 June.
His lawyer said Hall apologised to his victims and added: "He is all too aware that his disgrace is complete."His lawyer said Hall apologised to his victims and added: "He is all too aware that his disgrace is complete."
He has been bailed until sentencing on 17 June. Three charges of indecent assault and one of rape will lie on the court file.
The former presenter of the popular BBC TV games show It's A Knockout in the 1970s, Hall was working as a football reporter on BBC Radio 5 Live and wrote a weekly sport column for the Radio Times magazine until his arrest. Hall was working as a football reporter on BBC Radio 5 Live and wrote a weekly sport column for the Radio Times magazine until his arrest.
A BBC spokesperson said: "The BBC is appalled by the disgraceful actions of Stuart Hall and we would like to express our sympathy to his victims. We will continue to work with the police to assist them in this and any other inquiries they are making."A BBC spokesperson said: "The BBC is appalled by the disgraceful actions of Stuart Hall and we would like to express our sympathy to his victims. We will continue to work with the police to assist them in this and any other inquiries they are making."
Leaving court Hall, who previously had described the allegations as "pernicious and spurious", was pressed by reporters for an apology but said: "I've got a very heavy cold. I have no comment to make at all."Leaving court Hall, who previously had described the allegations as "pernicious and spurious", was pressed by reporters for an apology but said: "I've got a very heavy cold. I have no comment to make at all."
'Opportunistic predator''Opportunistic predator'
Hall admitted the offences last month but they could not be revealed due to reporting restrictions.Hall admitted the offences last month but they could not be revealed due to reporting restrictions.
The court heard that one of his victims, aged 17, was assaulted on the same day It's A Knockout was recorded in Ely, Cambridgeshire in 1973.The court heard that one of his victims, aged 17, was assaulted on the same day It's A Knockout was recorded in Ely, Cambridgeshire in 1973.
Chief Crown Prosecutor for the North West, Nazir Afzal, described Hall as an "opportunistic predator".Chief Crown Prosecutor for the North West, Nazir Afzal, described Hall as an "opportunistic predator".
He added: "We prosecuted Stuart Hall because the evidence of the victims clearly established a pattern of behaviour that was unlawful and for which no innocent explanation could be offered.He added: "We prosecuted Stuart Hall because the evidence of the victims clearly established a pattern of behaviour that was unlawful and for which no innocent explanation could be offered.
"His victims did not know each other and almost two decades separated the first and last assaults but almost all of the victims, including one who was only nine at the time of the assault, provided strikingly similar accounts."His victims did not know each other and almost two decades separated the first and last assaults but almost all of the victims, including one who was only nine at the time of the assault, provided strikingly similar accounts.
"Whether in public or private, Hall would first approach under friendly pretences and then bide his time until the victim was isolated."Whether in public or private, Hall would first approach under friendly pretences and then bide his time until the victim was isolated.
"I would like to thank the victims for having had the bravery to come forward. This case clearly shows that the victims of abuse will not be denied justice by the passage of time and abusers will be held to account.""I would like to thank the victims for having had the bravery to come forward. This case clearly shows that the victims of abuse will not be denied justice by the passage of time and abusers will be held to account."
Mr Afzal said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) would not be proceeding with the rape charge as the woman who made the allegation no longer wished to give evidence in light of the guilty pleas.Mr Afzal said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) would not be proceeding with the rape charge as the woman who made the allegation no longer wished to give evidence in light of the guilty pleas.
Football reporterFootball reporter
Det Chief Insp Neil Esseen, of Lancashire Constabulary's major investigation team, paid tribute to Hall's victims for their bravery.Det Chief Insp Neil Esseen, of Lancashire Constabulary's major investigation team, paid tribute to Hall's victims for their bravery.
He said: "The admissions of Mr Hall will at least spare his victims the ordeal of having to recount their abuse at a trial.He said: "The admissions of Mr Hall will at least spare his victims the ordeal of having to recount their abuse at a trial.
"They have lived with what happened for a long period of time and it cannot have been easy for them to come forward, especially as when they did so, they did not know there were others who had also suffered abuse.""They have lived with what happened for a long period of time and it cannot have been easy for them to come forward, especially as when they did so, they did not know there were others who had also suffered abuse."
The court heard in the 1980s Hall molested a nine-year-old girl by putting his hand up her clothing.The court heard in the 1980s Hall molested a nine-year-old girl by putting his hand up her clothing.
He also kissed a 13-year-old girl on the lips after he said to her: "People need to show thanks in other ways."He also kissed a 13-year-old girl on the lips after he said to her: "People need to show thanks in other ways."
On another occasion in the 1970s he fondled the breast of a girl aged 16 or 17, the court was told.On another occasion in the 1970s he fondled the breast of a girl aged 16 or 17, the court was told.
Political writer Linda McDougall was a television producer in Manchester in the late 1960s and 70s and worked with Hall.Political writer Linda McDougall was a television producer in Manchester in the late 1960s and 70s and worked with Hall.
She said: "He had what used to be the old medical room, Stuart occupied this during the afternoons while we were rehearsing for Look North and he had lady friends who came and went happily on to the BBC premises and kept him occupied during the afternoon.She said: "He had what used to be the old medical room, Stuart occupied this during the afternoons while we were rehearsing for Look North and he had lady friends who came and went happily on to the BBC premises and kept him occupied during the afternoon.
"Frankly he was a complete nuisance, he was one of those people who had his hands all over you and all over any female that came in any moment he [could].""Frankly he was a complete nuisance, he was one of those people who had his hands all over you and all over any female that came in any moment he [could]."
Hall was initially arrested in December and made a statement labelling the claims "pernicious, callous, cruel and above all spurious".Hall was initially arrested in December and made a statement labelling the claims "pernicious, callous, cruel and above all spurious".
He has been a familiar face and voice in British broadcasting for half a century, and was awarded an OBE in the 2012 New Year Honours.He has been a familiar face and voice in British broadcasting for half a century, and was awarded an OBE in the 2012 New Year Honours.