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| Freddie Starr will not be prosecuted, CPS confirms | Freddie Starr will not be prosecuted, CPS confirms |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Entertainer Freddie Starr will not be prosecuted over sex offence allegations because of "insufficient evidence" on most claims, prosecutors have said. | Entertainer Freddie Starr will not be prosecuted over sex offence allegations because of "insufficient evidence" on most claims, prosecutors have said. |
| The Crown Prosecution Service said there was "a realistic prospect of conviction" in one case but it was not in the public interest to prosecute. | The Crown Prosecution Service said there was "a realistic prospect of conviction" in one case but it was not in the public interest to prosecute. |
| Mr Starr has been on bail since being arrested by Operation Yewtree officers. | Mr Starr has been on bail since being arrested by Operation Yewtree officers. |
| Mr Starr's lawyer accused police of a "flagrant breach" of his client's human rights due to delays in the case. | Mr Starr's lawyer accused police of a "flagrant breach" of his client's human rights due to delays in the case. |
| Mr Starr, 71, was first questioned in November 2012, and has always denied any wrongdoing. | |
| 'Carefully reviewed' | |
| Baljit Ubhey, the Chief Crown Prosecutor of CPS London, said the case had been "carefully reviewed". | Baljit Ubhey, the Chief Crown Prosecutor of CPS London, said the case had been "carefully reviewed". |
| Complaints against Mr Starr had been made by 13 individuals, she said. | Complaints against Mr Starr had been made by 13 individuals, she said. |
| The complainants have been told of the decision by the CPS, which "will be writing to them to more fully explain our decision". | The complainants have been told of the decision by the CPS, which "will be writing to them to more fully explain our decision". |
| Ms Ubhey added: "Each allegation was considered on its own merits and we have concluded that the available evidence does not offer a realistic prospect of conviction for any of the alleged offences. | Ms Ubhey added: "Each allegation was considered on its own merits and we have concluded that the available evidence does not offer a realistic prospect of conviction for any of the alleged offences. |
| "In relation to one further complainant, we have decided that although there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction, according to the Code for Crown Prosecutors, a prosecution would not be in the public interest." | "In relation to one further complainant, we have decided that although there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction, according to the Code for Crown Prosecutors, a prosecution would not be in the public interest." |
| The BBC understands prosecutors decided not to pursue a conviction on that charge because it was unlikely Mr Starr would be jailed if found guilty. | The BBC understands prosecutors decided not to pursue a conviction on that charge because it was unlikely Mr Starr would be jailed if found guilty. |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani said there were a number of possible reasons prosecutors sometimes decided not to go to court despite believing they had enough evidence. | BBC home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani said there were a number of possible reasons prosecutors sometimes decided not to go to court despite believing they had enough evidence. |
| They include the seriousness of the crime, the harm inflicted and the possible impact a prosecution could have on the victim. | They include the seriousness of the crime, the harm inflicted and the possible impact a prosecution could have on the victim. |
| Ms Ubhey said: "It must be remembered that a determination by a prosecutor that there is sufficient evidence to prosecute under the code does not mean that the suspect is guilty of the offence." | Ms Ubhey said: "It must be remembered that a determination by a prosecutor that there is sufficient evidence to prosecute under the code does not mean that the suspect is guilty of the offence." |
| 'Toll taken' | |
| Mr Starr later appeared outside his Warwickshire home with his lawyer Dean Dunham. | |
| Mr Dunham said "there was simply never any evidence in this matter that was anywhere near sufficient" to keep his client on bail for so long. | |
| He added: "We will be looking at this further. Things have gone wrong here. I have lived this nearly every day with Freddie and you can see the toll it has taken on him. | |
| "He's a man of good character, remains a man of good character, and I would ask the public now to stand by this man. No doubt about it, his innocence has been proven." | |
| Mr Starr said he was "very relieved" and, asked if he had a message for his fans, said: "Thank you." | |
| Mr Dunham said his client would be making a full public statement within the next few days. | |
| Operation Yewtree is an inquiry into allegations of historical sexual abuse linked to the entertainment industry. | Operation Yewtree is an inquiry into allegations of historical sexual abuse linked to the entertainment industry. |
| It was launched in 2012 after it emerged the late BBC Radio One DJ and television presenter Jimmy Savile had abused hundreds of young people and children over more than five decades. | It was launched in 2012 after it emerged the late BBC Radio One DJ and television presenter Jimmy Savile had abused hundreds of young people and children over more than five decades. |