‘Sex abuse victim of ex-BBC host paid settlement’
A new report says a sex abuse victim of the former BBC presenter, Jimmy Savile, has received £15,000 as settlement for the scandal.
The BBC paid the sum to a fan of Jimmy Savile who was molested in the Television Center as a teenager, according to the British daily, the Express.
It is understood to be the first BBC settlement to be made public following the Savile scandal.
The victim, now 54, was a child living in a care home when he wrote to Savile telling him of the difficulties of growing up in the Northern Ireland Troubles.
The victim, identified by alias Robert, also confided to the then BBC host that he had been the victim of sexual abuse in the home and longed to meet some music stars on his show.
Savile responded by sending money to pay for the boy to travel to the studio, but then handed him over to an accomplice who repeatedly molested him.
The man has already given evidence to the Dame Janet Smith inquiry into Savile’s abuse at the BBC, the report added.
The broadcaster initially denied responsibility, saying since Robert was not abused by Savile he was not eligible for compensation.
However, it has now accepted that there was a potential for a finding of negligence and made the £15,000 settlement.
It is understood the payments will be made following Dame Janet’s inquiry.
The BBC initially said that Savile was not known as a ‘groomer’ and that was given as a reason for refusing the claim.
In January 2013, in a 37-page report by the police and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), Savile was branded as one of the UK’s most prolific known sexual predators, who used his celebrity status to “hide in plain sight.”
According to the report, titled “Giving Victims a Voice,” some 214 crimes, including 34 of rape, during the 54 years of abuse committed by the ex-presenter were recorded across 28 police force areas.
Savile died in 2011. Following his death, hundreds of allegations of sex abuse and rape of minors by him became public.
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