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| Ted Heath: brothel keeper linked to child abuse claims about former PM | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A former brothel keeper has been identified as the woman at the heart of claims former British prime minister Edward Heath was a paedophile. | |
| A prosecution against Myra Forde, 67, was dropped, allegedly after she threatened to claim that the former prime minister had abused children. Forde was later twice jailed for operating a brothel in Salisbury, Wiltshire, where Heath lived after leaving office. | |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission announced earlier this week that it was investigating claims made by a retired senior officer that Wiltshire police halted the prosecution in the 1990s. It then emerged that at least five police forces have been investigating allegations against Heath. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission announced earlier this week that it was investigating claims made by a retired senior officer that Wiltshire police halted the prosecution in the 1990s. It then emerged that at least five police forces have been investigating allegations against Heath. |
| Forde has recently moved into a block of flats run by Brent Housing Partnership on a leafy avenue in north-west London. She came to the door of her flat when approached by the Guardian but declined to comment on the allegations. Her Salisbury-based solicitors also declined to comment. | Forde has recently moved into a block of flats run by Brent Housing Partnership on a leafy avenue in north-west London. She came to the door of her flat when approached by the Guardian but declined to comment on the allegations. Her Salisbury-based solicitors also declined to comment. |
| Forde, who was originally from the Philippines, trained runaway children as sex workers from her property in Salisbury, less than a mile from Heath’s house. One 13-year-old girl would go straight from school to Forde’s brothel, which she called the Oriental Massage Parlour, according to reports of her trial at Winchester crown court. | |
| Following her release from prison, Forde was caught again in December 2009, admitted inciting prostitution, and was sentenced to five years in prison. | |
| Wiltshire police appealed on Monday for potential victims and witnesses to come forward. The force said it had received a number of calls after issuing the appeal. | Wiltshire police appealed on Monday for potential victims and witnesses to come forward. The force said it had received a number of calls after issuing the appeal. |
| Kent police said it had received a new allegation against Heath on Tuesday. A statement said: “Kent police has today received a report of a sexual assault having been committed in east Kent in the 1960s. The victim has named Sir Edward Heath in connection with the allegation. Detectives are making initial inquiries and will obtain a full account from the victim.” | Kent police said it had received a new allegation against Heath on Tuesday. A statement said: “Kent police has today received a report of a sexual assault having been committed in east Kent in the 1960s. The victim has named Sir Edward Heath in connection with the allegation. Detectives are making initial inquiries and will obtain a full account from the victim.” |
| A statement from Jersey police said Heath featured as part of Operation Whistle, which was set up after the Jimmy Savile scandal and the Jersey Care inquiry. The operation is looking into allegations of widespread abuse in the island’s care homes, including the Haut de la Garenne children’s home. | A statement from Jersey police said Heath featured as part of Operation Whistle, which was set up after the Jimmy Savile scandal and the Jersey Care inquiry. The operation is looking into allegations of widespread abuse in the island’s care homes, including the Haut de la Garenne children’s home. |
| A spokeswoman for Hampshire police said: “We are investigating allegations, we have nothing further to add at this stage.” | A spokeswoman for Hampshire police said: “We are investigating allegations, we have nothing further to add at this stage.” |
| After Monday’s revelations, the Mirror reported a claim by an unnamed man that he was raped at age 12 by Heath, who died aged 89 in 2005. The alleged victim claimed he was picked up by the politician in a car on the A2 in north Kent, within the Metropolitan police area. | After Monday’s revelations, the Mirror reported a claim by an unnamed man that he was raped at age 12 by Heath, who died aged 89 in 2005. The alleged victim claimed he was picked up by the politician in a car on the A2 in north Kent, within the Metropolitan police area. |
| Scotland Yard said that it had assessed an allegation of rape against Heath in April but decided that there were “no lines of inquiry that could proportionately be pursued by the Met”. | Scotland Yard said that it had assessed an allegation of rape against Heath in April but decided that there were “no lines of inquiry that could proportionately be pursued by the Met”. |
| The force has also reportedly been investigating claims against Heath as part of Operation Midland, which was set up to examine claims of systematic child abuse by a Westminster paedophile ring, bringing the total number of forces looking at allegations against the former PM to five. | The force has also reportedly been investigating claims against Heath as part of Operation Midland, which was set up to examine claims of systematic child abuse by a Westminster paedophile ring, bringing the total number of forces looking at allegations against the former PM to five. |
| Scotland Yard said it “does not provide a running commentary on Operation Midland”. | Scotland Yard said it “does not provide a running commentary on Operation Midland”. |