This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24722248
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ex-BBC driver David Smith found dead | Ex-BBC driver David Smith found dead |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| A former BBC driver accused of sex offences has been found dead. | A former BBC driver accused of sex offences has been found dead. |
| David Smith, 66, from Lewisham, south-east London, had been due to stand trial for allegedly abusing a 12-year-old boy in 1984. | David Smith, 66, from Lewisham, south-east London, had been due to stand trial for allegedly abusing a 12-year-old boy in 1984. |
| A warrant had been issued for his arrest after he failed to appear at Southwark Crown Court on Monday. | A warrant had been issued for his arrest after he failed to appear at Southwark Crown Court on Monday. |
| He was charged with two counts of indecent assault, two of indecency and one of a serious sexual offence as part of Operation Yewtree. | |
| Smith was the first person to be charged under the investigation set up to look at abuse claims against the late entertainer, Jimmy Savile. | |
| It was alleged Smith met his victim at a swimming pool, invited him back to his flat where he sexually abused him. | |
| He also took the boy on a visit to the BBC studios at White City, in west London. During the journey the boy claimed that he was indecently assaulted. | |
| Historical abuse | |
| The victim's partner contacted police after she saw his response to the ITV documentary Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile, which was broadcast on 3 October 2012. | |
| A previous attempt to track down Smith in 2002 had failed when police could not find him - even though he was in prison at the time. | |
| David Smith was a prolific sex offender whose first conviction was in 1966. He had 22 convictions for sexual offences against young boys. | |
| His barrister became concerned on Monday when Mr Smith failed to appear at court. | |
| Police found him at his home address at about 14:20 GMT and he was pronounced dead at the scene. | |
| The cause of death is not yet known and a post-mortem examination will take place. | |
| His trial had been due to start on Tuesday. | |
| Yewtree is an inquiry into allegations of historical sexual abuse linked to the entertainment industry. | |
| The operation has three strands. One concerns Savile's crimes exclusively, while a second strand relates to allegations against Savile and others. | |
| The third strand concentrates on accusations which emerged as a result of the publicity surrounding Savile, but which are unconnected to him. | |
| Smith was investigated under the third strand. |