A series of extensive investigations have revealed that Jimmy Savile, notorious for his roles on Top Of The Pops and Jim’ll Fix It, committed heinous acts by s–ually assaulting victims ranging from five to 75 years old in NHS hospitals.
Reports released by the Department of Health shed light on Savile’s despicable behavior across 28 hospitals nationwide.
The findings indicate that Savile carried out his abuses in various hospital settings, including patient beds, corridors, and offices.
Particularly disturbing is the revelation that at Leeds General Infirmary, he allegedly victimized 60 individuals and even bragged about engaging in s–ual acts with deceased bodies in the hospital’s morgue.
The disgraced BBC DJ passed away at the age of 84 in October 2011, a year prior to the airing of child abuse allegations against him in an ITV documentary titled “Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile.”
This exposé led to a flood of accusations from additional purported victims.
How many accusations have surfaced against Savile?
A report by the Metropolitan Police named “Giving Victims a Voice,” released in January 2013, disclosed a staggering 214 recorded crimes across 28 police jurisdictions involving Savile, including 34 allegations of rape.
These offenses spanned over six decades, commencing in 1955 and persisting until 2009, with a concentration of incidents occurring between 1966 and 1976.
A recent NSPCC report indicated that the number of reported abuses has surpassed 500, with one distressing case involving an assault on a two-year-old child.
The charity emphasized that Savile stands out as one of the most prolific s=x offenders ever encountered.
Who were the targets of Savile’s abuse?
The majority of Savile’s victims were females under the age of 16.
His offenses typically constituted opportunistic s–ual assaults, although some victims were reportedly groomed beforehand.
Male victims accounted for at least 40 documented incidents, with one victim as young as eight years old.
Recollections include a woman encountering Savile at a nightclub when she was 14 and subsequently being raped at his residence.
Another account involved a ten-year-old boy seeking Savile’s autograph outside a hotel and enduring serious s–ual assault within the hotel’s reception area.
Where did these atrocities occur?
While most offenses transpired in Savile’s hometown of Leeds or his primary workplace in London, reports also cited abusive incidents at hospitals such as Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, mental health institutions, and a hospice.
Notably, Savile exploited his positions as a porter at Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary to target vulnerable individuals.
Additionally, television and radio studios, along with several schools, were identified as venues where Savile perpetuated abuse.
Shockingly, BBC premises, including during the final recording of Top of the Pops in July 2006, also served as sites of misconduct.
Why did it take so long for these accusations to surface?
During Savile’s lifetime, only a small number of victims stepped forward to report the offenses.
In many instances, victims either refrained from pursuing legal action or faced insufficient evidence for prosecutors to proceed.
Nonetheless, a posthumous inquiry by the Crown Prosecution Service revealed missed opportunities to prosecute Savile while he was alive.
Following Savile’s death, BBC Newsnight came close to exposing allegations from victims at Duncroft, a school in Surrey, but the investigation was abruptly terminated.
Subsequent investigations unveiled management shortcomings at the BBC, leading to the resignation of director-general George Entwistle amidst accusations of a cover-up.
What findings emerged today?
The Department of Health’s ongoing probe into Savile’s connections with 35 hospitals and care facilities resulted in the publication of detailed reports on 28 institutions, notably Leeds General Infirmary and Broadmoor psychiatric hospital.
These reports underscore how Savile enjoyed unsupervised access to vulnerable patients, while staff members failed to address the risks posed by his aberrant lifestyle.
Testimonies revealed instances where victims confided in staff members, yet these disclosures were not escalated to higher authorities.
At Leeds General Infirmary, 60 individuals recounted experiences of abuse, with additional suspicions raised regarding Savile’s alleged interference with deceased bodies when he volunteered as a hospital porter three decades ago.
Although the authenticity of these claims remains unverifiable, investigators deemed his fascination with the deceased as highly disturbing.
Meanwhile, at Broadmoor, eleven instances of s–ual abuse were reported by patients and staff, hinting at possible underestimations.
The report highlighted a culture that tolerated inappropriate relationships between staff and patients and discouraged reporting of concerns.
Investigations at Stoke Mandeville Hospital have faced delays following the emergence of new information.
Have there been other inquiries conducted?
In addition to the Department of Health’s investigations, numerous other probes have sought to uncover the extent of Savile’s atrocities.
