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Operation Midland: four top public figures falsely accused by 'Nick' Operation Midland: top public figures falsely accused by 'Nick'
(32 minutes later)
Harvey ProctorHarvey Proctor
The former Conservative MP, 72, was alleged to have attended sexual abuse parties organised by a VIP paedophile ring and to have strangled a boy to death.The former Conservative MP, 72, was alleged to have attended sexual abuse parties organised by a VIP paedophile ring and to have strangled a boy to death.
On another occasion, it was claimed, Proctor participated in the rape and fatal beating of a second boy. He was accused of threatening to cut off Carl Beech’s genitals with a penknife before allegedly being dissuaded by Ted Heath and then handing the weapon to Beech as a memento.On another occasion, it was claimed, Proctor participated in the rape and fatal beating of a second boy. He was accused of threatening to cut off Carl Beech’s genitals with a penknife before allegedly being dissuaded by Ted Heath and then handing the weapon to Beech as a memento.
A third boy was alleged to have been killed in Kingston, south London, in a staged hit-and-run on the orders of the paedophile ring. A third boy was alleged to have been killed in Kingston upon Thames, south-west London, in a staged hit-and-run on the orders of the paedophile ring.
Proctor’s home was raided and he was twice questioned by police over the allegations, which cost him his job, before being told in March 2016 he faced no further action. He is suing the Metropolitan police for £1m.Proctor’s home was raided and he was twice questioned by police over the allegations, which cost him his job, before being told in March 2016 he faced no further action. He is suing the Metropolitan police for £1m.
Proctor, who left the Commons in 1987 after pleading guilty to acts of gross indecency, told the Guardian: “This was like no other police operation or investigation ever. It was self-justification and it was a PR campaign and I got caught up in all of it.”Proctor, who left the Commons in 1987 after pleading guilty to acts of gross indecency, told the Guardian: “This was like no other police operation or investigation ever. It was self-justification and it was a PR campaign and I got caught up in all of it.”
Leon BrittanLeon Brittan
The former home secretary, a key figure in Margaret Thatcher’s government, was alleged to have also attended the group’s sexual abuse parties.The former home secretary, a key figure in Margaret Thatcher’s government, was alleged to have also attended the group’s sexual abuse parties.
Two of his properties were raided in March 2015, two months after his death aged 75 from cancer. His widow later received compensation from the Met after the force admitted the raids should never have taken place.Two of his properties were raided in March 2015, two months after his death aged 75 from cancer. His widow later received compensation from the Met after the force admitted the raids should never have taken place.
Brittan went to his grave with the allegations hanging over him, as well as a separate claim, which was later dropped, from a woman who said the politician raped her in 1967, when she was 19. Brittan died with the allegations hanging over him, as well as a separate claim, which was later dropped, from a woman who said the politician raped her in 1967, when she was 19.
In February 2016, Bernard Hogan-Howe, then Metropolitan police commissioner, personally apologised to Brittan’s widow, Diana, for the delay in telling the politician that there was no case to answer over the rape claim.In February 2016, Bernard Hogan-Howe, then Metropolitan police commissioner, personally apologised to Brittan’s widow, Diana, for the delay in telling the politician that there was no case to answer over the rape claim.
The Labour MP Tom Watson also apologised to Lady Brittan for his role in the case, which had come to light after the rape complainant, known as Jane, had approached him in 2012. He apologised for causing distress and referring to Lord Brittan as “evil”, but defended going over the heads of senior detectives and lobbying the director of public prosecutions.The Labour MP Tom Watson also apologised to Lady Brittan for his role in the case, which had come to light after the rape complainant, known as Jane, had approached him in 2012. He apologised for causing distress and referring to Lord Brittan as “evil”, but defended going over the heads of senior detectives and lobbying the director of public prosecutions.
Sir Edward HeathSir Edward Heath
The former prime minister, who led a Conservative government from 1970 to 1974 and died in 2005 aged 89, was also alleged to have hosted and participated in the parties where Beech claimed to have been abused.The former prime minister, who led a Conservative government from 1970 to 1974 and died in 2005 aged 89, was also alleged to have hosted and participated in the parties where Beech claimed to have been abused.
As a result of a separate £1.5m investigation into allegations of historical abuse against Heath, Wiltshire police announced in 2017 that the politician would have been questioned over the claims if he had still been alive when they came to light.As a result of a separate £1.5m investigation into allegations of historical abuse against Heath, Wiltshire police announced in 2017 that the politician would have been questioned over the claims if he had still been alive when they came to light.
Wiltshire police’s report of its two-year investigation, Operation Conifer, concluded that the 40 allegations, including the alleged rape of an 11-year-old boy, would have met the legal threshold to interview Heath under caution had he still been alive. However, the force said no inference of guilt should be drawn.Wiltshire police’s report of its two-year investigation, Operation Conifer, concluded that the 40 allegations, including the alleged rape of an 11-year-old boy, would have met the legal threshold to interview Heath under caution had he still been alive. However, the force said no inference of guilt should be drawn.
The report drew widespread criticism. The former Tory cabinet minister Lord Heseltine, who knew Heath, said at the time: “I am afraid that there isn’t any evidence; there is just speculation and allegations.” The report drew widespread criticism. The former Tory cabinet minister Michael Heseltine, who knew Heath, said at the time: “I am afraid that there isn’t any evidence; there is just speculation and allegations.”
In January 2018, it emerged that the chief constable, Mike Veale, who led Wiltshire police’s inquiry into Heath, was being investigated by a watchdog over claims he deliberately damaged a police-owned phone.In January 2018, it emerged that the chief constable, Mike Veale, who led Wiltshire police’s inquiry into Heath, was being investigated by a watchdog over claims he deliberately damaged a police-owned phone.
Edwin BramallEdwin Bramall
Lord Bramall, a 95-year-old D-day veteran and former chief of the defence staff, was also alleged to have attended and participated in the abuse parties.Lord Bramall, a 95-year-old D-day veteran and former chief of the defence staff, was also alleged to have attended and participated in the abuse parties.
Bramall, who always denied the allegations, was questioned by police under caution, and his home was raided while his wife was suffering from dementia. She died before Bramall was told, in January 2016, that he faced no further action.Bramall, who always denied the allegations, was questioned by police under caution, and his home was raided while his wife was suffering from dementia. She died before Bramall was told, in January 2016, that he faced no further action.
He later received compensation from the Metropolitan police over the raid, which the force admitted never should have happened. Hogan-Howe personally apologised to the war hero. He later received compensation from the Met over the raid, which the force admitted never should have happened. Hogan-Howe personally apologised to Bramall.
Bramall, who retired from the House of Lords in 2013, told a newspaper in October 2016: “Although police knew from very early on they had no case to answer, they couldn’t stop investigating because they didn’t want to be accused of not investigating it properly.”Bramall, who retired from the House of Lords in 2013, told a newspaper in October 2016: “Although police knew from very early on they had no case to answer, they couldn’t stop investigating because they didn’t want to be accused of not investigating it properly.”
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