In late 2012, the public was stunned to learn that Jimmy Savile, a well-known British media personality who had passed away the previous year, had been involved in a long history of s**ual abuse.
The victims ranged from children to adults as old as 75, with the majority being females.
Savile had cultivated an eccentric image and was respected for his charitable work, which allowed him to associate with powerful individuals such as members of the British monarchy.
The scandal began to unfold on 3 October 2012, when investigative reporter Mark Williams-Thomas presented an ITV documentary featuring interviews with several women who claimed to have been s**ually abused by Savile during their teenage years.
These allegations prompted further investigations and led to the involvement of thirteen British police forces, as well as inquiries into the practices of both the BBC and the National Health Service (NHS), both of which had close ties to Savile.
On 19 October, London’s Metropolitan Police launched Operation Yewtree, a criminal investigation into historic allegations of child s**ual abuse by Savile and other individuals over a span of four decades.
The scale of the alleged abuse was described as “unprecedented,” with over 400 lines of inquiry and 200 witnesses involved.
By December, a total of 589 alleged victims had come forward, with 450 specifically accusing Savile of abuse.
The joint investigations conducted by the police and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) resulted in the publication of a report called “Giving Victims a Voice” in January 2013.
The report documented allegations of abuse spanning 50 years, including 214 uncorroborated but recorded crimes committed by Savile, some involving children as young as eight.
The report revealed that these offenses took place not only at various hospitals, but also on BBC premises.
In October 2013, the scope of the investigations expanded to include other hospitals.
In June 2014, then-Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt reported that Savile had s**ually assaulted victims ranging in age from 5 to 75 in NHS hospitals, offering an apology to the victims.
Further investigations led to additional allegations of s**ual abuse
