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| Ex-BBC driver David Smith found dead | Ex-BBC driver David Smith found dead |
| (about 4 hours 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, 67, from Lewisham, south-east London, had been due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court for allegedly abusing a boy, 12, in 1984. | David Smith, 67, from Lewisham, south-east London, had been due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court for allegedly abusing a boy, 12, in 1984. |
| A warrant was issued for his arrest on Monday after he failed to attend court. | A warrant was issued for his arrest on Monday after he failed to attend court. |
| Smith was charged with two counts of indecent assault, two of indecency and one of a serious sexual offence as part of Operation Yewtree. The cause of his death is not yet known. | Smith was charged with two counts of indecent assault, two of indecency and one of a serious sexual offence as part of Operation Yewtree. The cause of his death is not yet known. |
| Smith was the first person to be charged under the investigation into historical cases of abuse, which was originally set up in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal. | Smith was the first person to be charged under the investigation into historical cases of abuse, which was originally set up in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal. |
| It was alleged Smith met his victim at a swimming pool and invited him back to his flat, where he sexually abused him. | It was alleged Smith met his victim at a swimming pool and 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, he was indecently assaulted. | He also took the boy on a visit to the BBC studios at White City, in west London. During the journey, the boy claimed, he was indecently assaulted. |
| Historical abuse | Historical abuse |
| The alleged 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. | The alleged 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. | 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. |
| Smith was a prolific sex offender whose first conviction was in 1966. He had 22 convictions for sexual offences against young boys. | Smith was a prolific sex offender whose first conviction was in 1966. He had 22 convictions for sexual offences against young boys. |
| BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Danny Shaw said both the BBC and the police had questions to answer about Smith. | |
| Smith's barrister became concerned on Monday when his client 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. | 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. | The cause of death is not yet known and a post-mortem examination will take place. |
| Yewtree is an inquiry into allegations of historical sexual abuse linked to the entertainment industry. | 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 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 that emerged as a result of the publicity surrounding Savile, but which are unconnected to him. | The third strand concentrates on accusations that emerged as a result of the publicity surrounding Savile, but which are unconnected to him. |
| Smith was investigated under the third strand. | Smith was investigated under the third strand. |