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| 'Ex-BBC driver' David Smith found dead ahead of sex abuse trial | 'Ex-BBC driver' David Smith found dead ahead of sex abuse trial |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man described in court as a former BBC driver has been found dead ahead of his trial for historical sex offences. | A man described in court as a former BBC driver has been found dead ahead of his trial for historical sex offences. |
| David Smith, 67, from Lewisham, south-east London, was charged as part of Operation Yewtree with allegedly abusing a 12-year-old boy in 1984. | David Smith, 67, from Lewisham, south-east London, was charged as part of Operation Yewtree with allegedly abusing a 12-year-old boy in 1984. |
| A warrant was issued for his arrest on Monday after he failed to attend Southwark Crown Court. His cause of death is not yet known. | A warrant was issued for his arrest on Monday after he failed to attend Southwark Crown Court. His cause of death is not yet known. |
| The BBC said it had found no record of him working for the corporation. | The BBC said it had found no record of him working for the corporation. |
| Scotland Yard said a post-mortem examination was being carried out on Tuesday, but there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. | Scotland Yard said a post-mortem examination was being carried out on Tuesday, but there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. |
| 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. |
| He faced two counts of indecent assault, two of indecency and one of a serious sexual offence. | He faced two counts of indecent assault, two of indecency and one of a serious sexual offence. |
| 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. |
| Court documents say there is no evidence to suggest a link between Smith and Savile, though the former was contracted to work as a driver for the BBC. | |
| A BBC spokesman said "on searches carried out to date" the corporation had "not found any record of David Smith being employed by or working for the BBC". | A BBC spokesman said "on searches carried out to date" the corporation had "not found any record of David Smith being employed by or working for the BBC". |
| "We have been assisting the police in relation to David Smith and will continue to do so," he added. | "We have been assisting the police in relation to David Smith and will continue to do so," he added. |
| 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. |
| Historical abuse | Historical abuse |
| 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 it appeared that both the BBC and the police may have questions to answer about Smith. | |
| Smith's barrister became concerned on Monday when his client failed to appear at court. | 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. |
| 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. |