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| Westminster 'paedophile ring' accuser charged | Westminster 'paedophile ring' accuser charged |
| (35 minutes 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. | Mr Proctor has welcomed the decision to prosecute Nick. |
| High-profile raids | |
| 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. |
| 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 there was "sufficient evidence" to bring 12 charges of perverting the court of justice and one of fraud. | |
| Nick is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court "in due course". | |
| Proctor wants Nick named | |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. | |
| Daniel Janner, the son of the late peer Lord Janner, said in the light of the CPS charging decision he would no longer be attempting to bring a private prosecution against Nick over allegations he made against his father. | |
| Police apology | 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. | 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. | 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. |