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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Westminster 'paedophile ring' accuser charged | Westminster 'paedophile ring' accuser charged |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man who alleged there was a paedophile ring at the heart of Westminster has been charged with perverting the course of justice. | A man who alleged there was a paedophile ring at the heart of Westminster has been charged with perverting the course of justice. |
| The man, known as Nick, whose real name is being withheld for legal reasons, is also accused of fraud. | The man, known as Nick, whose real name is being withheld for legal reasons, is also accused of fraud. |
| Nick's claims sparked an 18-month Scotland Yard inquiry into allegations public figures sexually assaulted children and three boys were murdered. | Nick's claims sparked an 18-month Scotland Yard inquiry into allegations public figures sexually assaulted children and three boys were murdered. |
| The inquiry was dropped and Northumbria Police was asked to investigate Nick. | The inquiry was dropped and Northumbria Police was asked to investigate Nick. |
| Nick had claimed he was systematically abused and tortured by senior politicians and members of the armed forces during the 1970s and 1980s. | Nick had claimed he was systematically abused and tortured by senior politicians and members of the armed forces during the 1970s and 1980s. |
| Those he accused included former Conservative politicians Lord Brittan and Harvey Proctor, and Field Marshal Lord Bramall. | Those he accused included former Conservative politicians Lord Brittan and Harvey Proctor, and Field Marshal Lord Bramall. |
| Mr Proctor has welcomed the decision to prosecute Nick. | |
| After the Met launched Operation Midland in 2014 to investigate Nick's claims, they held a press conference where a senior detective described the allegations as "credible and true". | After the Met launched Operation Midland in 2014 to investigate Nick's claims, they held a press conference where a senior detective described the allegations as "credible and true". |
| In 2015, the Met carried out a series of high-profile dawn raids on the homes of those Nick had accused. | In 2015, the Met carried out a series of high-profile dawn raids on the homes of those Nick had accused. |
| All of them denied his allegations and the investigation was closed without anyone facing charges, having cost £2.5m. | All of them denied his allegations and the investigation was closed without anyone facing charges, having cost £2.5m. |
| Thirteen charges | Thirteen charges |
| Last September, Northumbria Police passed a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to consider possible charges against Nick. | Last September, Northumbria Police passed a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to consider possible charges against Nick. |
| On Tuesday, the CPS head of special crime said: "The CPS has considered a file of evidence from Northumbria Police relating to allegations of perverting the course of justice and fraud by a 50-year-old man. | On Tuesday, the CPS head of special crime said: "The CPS has considered a file of evidence from Northumbria Police relating to allegations of perverting the course of justice and fraud by a 50-year-old man. |
| "The police investigation provided evidence that the man had made a number of false allegations alleging multiple homicides and sexual abuse said to have been carried out in the 1970s and 1980s. | "The police investigation provided evidence that the man had made a number of false allegations alleging multiple homicides and sexual abuse said to have been carried out in the 1970s and 1980s. |
| "Following careful consideration we have concluded there is sufficient evidence to bring a number of criminal charges. | "Following careful consideration we have concluded there is sufficient evidence to bring a number of criminal charges. |
| "He has today been charged with 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one count of fraud and will appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court in due course. | "He has today been charged with 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one count of fraud and will appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court in due course. |
| "Criminal proceedings in relation to this matter are now active and it is extremely important there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings." | "Criminal proceedings in relation to this matter are now active and it is extremely important there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings." |
| 'Justice must take course' | |
| In a statement, Mr Proctor "congratulated" Northumbria Police for a "thorough and robust" investigation and said there must be no delays in arranging the trial. | |
| "The torture that was and is Operation Midland should end as soon as is possible," he said, adding: "Justice must now be allowed to take its course." | |
| The 71-year-old said Nick should be named at the "earliest opportunity", although he said he understood why it was not currently possible to do so, for legal reasons. | |
| He also called for the publication in full of Sir Richard Henriques' report into Operation Midland saying it would be "untenable" for Nick to have access to it under disclosure rules but for it to be withheld from others. | |
| Police apology | |
| The Met apologised for the way they had conducted Operation Midland and paid compensation to Lord Bramall and the family of Lord Brittan, who died in 2015. | |
| Mr Proctor is suing the Met for compensation. | |
| A report into Operation Midland, carried out by a retired High Court judge, said the force had made a series of errors in the investigation and made 25 recommendations on how police should handle similar allegations in the future. | A report into Operation Midland, carried out by a retired High Court judge, said the force had made a series of errors in the investigation and made 25 recommendations on how police should handle similar allegations in the future. |