The Metropolitan Police have launched a formal criminal investigation into David Walliams following a surge in allegations. The 55-year-old entertainer, known for shows like 'Little Britain', is accused of grooming schoolgirls and sexually harassing young women. The allegations are described as 'non-recent serious sexual offences', a term indicating that the alleged crimes were committed in the past but are being reported now. One accused victim was 15 years old at the time.
These new allegations are distinct from those previously investigated by ITN and The Guardian. The Metropolitan Police had received no reports before these recent accusations emerged, marking a significant shift in the timeline of the case. Detectives are now proactively reviewing the prior media coverage to determine if it constitutes evidence of criminal offences, a process that requires careful scrutiny of previously published material.
In a preceding High Court battle, Walliams attempted to suppress the earlier media reports. He threatened suicide and sought an injunction, which was refused by a judge. This legal action occurred before the current investigation began, with the judge ruling against Walliams' request.
He threatened suicide and sought an injunction, which was refused by a judge.
Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney, leading the investigation, stated that specialist officers are supporting the new victims. 'In recent days, the Met has received a number of allegations of non-recent serious sexual offences involving a man now in his 50s,' he said. 'We would encourage anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to come forward and speak to us, no matter when it happened.' The force is urging potential victims to come forward, emphasizing that the time elapsed since the alleged incidents is not a barrier to reporting.