This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/may/06/freddie-starr-not-prosecuted-sex-offence-allegations
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Freddie Starr will not be prosecuted over sex offence allegations, says CPS | Freddie Starr will not be prosecuted over sex offence allegations, says CPS |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The TV entertainer Freddie Starr has said he is "very relieved" after prosecutors announced he would face no further action over sexual offence allegations concerning 14 individuals. | The TV entertainer Freddie Starr has said he is "very relieved" after prosecutors announced he would face no further action over sexual offence allegations concerning 14 individuals. |
| The comedian was told there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him after he spent 18 months on police bail under Scotland Yard's Operation Yewtree inquiry. | |
| Appearing briefly outside his home in Studley, Warwickshire, Starr, 71, looked unwell and spoke only to say he was relieved at the decision. His lawyer, Dean Dunham, accused the police and prosecutors of a "flagrant breach" of Starr's human rights over their handling of the case. | |
| Dunham said: "You can see the toll it has taken on him. He is a man of good character and remains a man of good character and I would ask the public to now stand by this man. There can be no doubt about it – his innocence has been proven." | Dunham said: "You can see the toll it has taken on him. He is a man of good character and remains a man of good character and I would ask the public to now stand by this man. There can be no doubt about it – his innocence has been proven." |
| Starr is the latest public figure to face no further action after being arrested under Operation Yewtree, following the decisions not to prosecute comedians Jim Davidson and Jimmy Tarbuck. | Starr is the latest public figure to face no further action after being arrested under Operation Yewtree, following the decisions not to prosecute comedians Jim Davidson and Jimmy Tarbuck. |
| Baljit Ubhey, the chief crown prosecutor of CPS London, said there was insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction relating to 13 of the complainants and that prosecuting one further allegation would not be in the public interest. | Baljit Ubhey, the chief crown prosecutor of CPS London, said there was insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction relating to 13 of the complainants and that prosecuting one further allegation would not be in the public interest. |
| Ubhey said: "Having carefully reviewed this case, we have decided that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute Freddie Starr in relation to allegations of sexual offences made by 13 individuals. Each allegation was considered on its own merits and we have concluded that the available evidence does not offer a realistic prospect of conviction for any of the alleged offences. | Ubhey said: "Having carefully reviewed this case, we have decided that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute Freddie Starr in relation to allegations of sexual offences made by 13 individuals. Each allegation was considered on its own merits and we have concluded that the available evidence does not offer a realistic prospect of conviction for any of the alleged offences. |
| "In relation to one further complainant, we have decided that although there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction, according to the code for crown prosecutors, a prosecution would not be in the public interest." | "In relation to one further complainant, we have decided that although there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction, according to the code for crown prosecutors, a prosecution would not be in the public interest." |
| Ubhey added: "It must be remembered that a determination by a prosecutor that there is sufficient evidence to prosecute under the code does not mean that the suspect is guilty of the offence. Prosecutors have to consider whether there is enough evidence to bring a case to trial, but deciding whether an offence has been committed is entirely a matter for courts and juries and every suspect is innocent until proven guilty. | Ubhey added: "It must be remembered that a determination by a prosecutor that there is sufficient evidence to prosecute under the code does not mean that the suspect is guilty of the offence. Prosecutors have to consider whether there is enough evidence to bring a case to trial, but deciding whether an offence has been committed is entirely a matter for courts and juries and every suspect is innocent until proven guilty. |
| "All of these decisions have been taken in accordance with the code and our guidance for prosecutors on cases of sexual offences. The complainants have been informed and we will be writing to them to more fully explain our decision." | "All of these decisions have been taken in accordance with the code and our guidance for prosecutors on cases of sexual offences. The complainants have been informed and we will be writing to them to more fully explain our decision." |
| Starr was first arrested in November 2012 over allegations involving Jimmy Savile and others. He was arrested again in April 2013 and in January 2014 before a fourth arrest in February 2014 after additional claims were made to detectives. | Starr was first arrested in November 2012 over allegations involving Jimmy Savile and others. He was arrested again in April 2013 and in January 2014 before a fourth arrest in February 2014 after additional claims were made to detectives. |
| Since his first arrest 18 months ago Starr has described the allegations as without foundation and in television interviews said he was "absolutely mortified" and the police investigation was damaging his health. | |
| The allegations against Starr first came to light in the wake of the Savile scandal in October 2012, when a woman claimed the late Top of the Pops presenter abused her in his BBC dressing room in the 1970s. Starr made a failed attempt to secure a high court injunction to restrict media reporting of the claim, which he said he had hired private investigators to examine. | The allegations against Starr first came to light in the wake of the Savile scandal in October 2012, when a woman claimed the late Top of the Pops presenter abused her in his BBC dressing room in the 1970s. Starr made a failed attempt to secure a high court injunction to restrict media reporting of the claim, which he said he had hired private investigators to examine. |
| In February Starr's legal team said they would mount a fresh high court challenge over the way police and prosecutors had handled the investigation. |