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Ex-wife of abuse accuser Carl Beech 'first heard claims on TV' | Ex-wife of abuse accuser Carl Beech 'first heard claims on TV' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The ex-wife of an alleged VIP abuse fantasist first heard about his claims after seeing him being interviewed on television, a court has heard. | The ex-wife of an alleged VIP abuse fantasist first heard about his claims after seeing him being interviewed on television, a court has heard. |
Dawn Beech said her ex-husband, Carl, never said anything during their marriage about witnessing murders or being abused by famous people. | Dawn Beech said her ex-husband, Carl, never said anything during their marriage about witnessing murders or being abused by famous people. |
Carl Beech, 51, from Gloucester, denies 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one of fraud. | Carl Beech, 51, from Gloucester, denies 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one of fraud. |
Ms Beech said he denied being on TV when she challenged him about it. | Ms Beech said he denied being on TV when she challenged him about it. |
Known by the name "Nick" when his claims were first reported in the media, Mr Beech is on trial accused of lying about being sexually abused by a group of well-known figures from politics, the media and intelligence in the 1970s and 1980s. | Known by the name "Nick" when his claims were first reported in the media, Mr Beech is on trial accused of lying about being sexually abused by a group of well-known figures from politics, the media and intelligence in the 1970s and 1980s. |
He also told police he claimed to have witnessed three boys being murdered. | He also told police he claimed to have witnessed three boys being murdered. |
His claims led to the Metropolitan Police's Operation Midland, which cost £2m and ended without any charges. | His claims led to the Metropolitan Police's Operation Midland, which cost £2m and ended without any charges. |
Among the people he accused were former prime minister Sir Edward Heath and former home secretary Lord Brittan. | Among the people he accused were former prime minister Sir Edward Heath and former home secretary Lord Brittan. |
Giving evidence behind a screen at Newcastle Crown Court, Ms Beech recalled watching an episode of the BBC's Panorama programme in October 2015 about an alleged VIP paedophile ring. | Giving evidence behind a screen at Newcastle Crown Court, Ms Beech recalled watching an episode of the BBC's Panorama programme in October 2015 about an alleged VIP paedophile ring. |
She told the court she recognised a silhouetted figure who appeared on the programme making allegations of abuse by powerful people. | She told the court she recognised a silhouetted figure who appeared on the programme making allegations of abuse by powerful people. |
Asked in court who the person was, she said: "It was my ex-husband Carl Beech." | Asked in court who the person was, she said: "It was my ex-husband Carl Beech." |
Ms Beech, who separated from her husband in 2009 and was divorced in 2012, said she later spoke to Mr Beech after the TV programme, asking him: "Were you on Panorama the other week?" | Ms Beech, who separated from her husband in 2009 and was divorced in 2012, said she later spoke to Mr Beech after the TV programme, asking him: "Were you on Panorama the other week?" |
"Me on Panorama? Why would I be doing that?" was his response, she told jurors. She said he was smiling and laughing as he answered. | "Me on Panorama? Why would I be doing that?" was his response, she told jurors. She said he was smiling and laughing as he answered. |
'Spoke of stepfather abuse' | 'Spoke of stepfather abuse' |
Ms Beech, 49, told the court her ex-husband had never mentioned anything during their marriage about seeing children being killed, being taken away to be abused or about famous people abusing him. | Ms Beech, 49, told the court her ex-husband had never mentioned anything during their marriage about seeing children being killed, being taken away to be abused or about famous people abusing him. |
He had never mentioned childhood abuse by anyone except his stepfather, she said. | He had never mentioned childhood abuse by anyone except his stepfather, she said. |
Before they became a couple and in Relate counselling sessions during their marriage, he told her Major Ray Beech had sexually abused him, the court heard. | Before they became a couple and in Relate counselling sessions during their marriage, he told her Major Ray Beech had sexually abused him, the court heard. |
She said Mr Beech told her his stepfather would come up to his bedroom and abuse him as his mother watched television downstairs. | She said Mr Beech told her his stepfather would come up to his bedroom and abuse him as his mother watched television downstairs. |
The couple had married in 1992, after meeting four years earlier at nursing school, jurors heard. | The couple had married in 1992, after meeting four years earlier at nursing school, jurors heard. |
Ms Beech said that her ex-husband's experience of abuse had created problems with intimacy in a relationship. | |
She also said he had personal hygiene issues, which had developed as a "defence mechanism" against abuse, to make himself "unattractive". | |
Ray Tully, Mr Beech's defence barrister, told the court that some time after the Panorama broadcast, his client had apologised to his ex-wife if she was being dragged into the press reporting of the case. | |
Mr Beech also apologised for issues in their marriage, including his struggles with intimacy, the barrister said. | |
The court also heard that Mr Beech had shown his wife a "good memory box" early in their marriage, which contained items including a penknife. Ms Beech said she thought her ex-husband had been given it by his grandmother. | The court also heard that Mr Beech had shown his wife a "good memory box" early in their marriage, which contained items including a penknife. Ms Beech said she thought her ex-husband had been given it by his grandmother. |
Jurors heard earlier that Mr Beech handed the penknife to police, claiming it had been given to him by former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor during his alleged abuse. | Jurors heard earlier that Mr Beech handed the penknife to police, claiming it had been given to him by former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor during his alleged abuse. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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