Police Launch Investigation Into David Walliams Over Allegations
The Metropolitan Police has opened an investigation after receiving allegations of non-recent serious sexual offences involving David Walliams. The comedian and children's author denies any wrongdoing. Detectives are also reviewing reporting published earlier this week.
The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation into comedian and children's author David Walliams after receiving a number of allegations of non-recent serious sexual offences, the force said. Police launch investigation steps followed complaints made in recent days. Walliams, 55, denies any wrongdoing.
The Met did not name him in its statement. It referred to "a man now in his fifties" and said the allegations were received "in recent days".
What the Met said
The force said those who came forward are being supported by specialist officers. It stressed the new allegations are separate from those reported earlier this week by news organisations.
Detectives are also "proactively reviewing that reporting to establish whether there is any evidence of offences", the statement said. The Met has not said how many allegations it received, what they involve, or when and where the incidents are alleged to have happened.
Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney, who heads the investigating team, urged others to come forward. "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," he said.
Reporting earlier this week
Several women accused the former Britain's Got Talent judge of sexual misconduct in an investigation published earlier this week. One woman alleged he contacted her when she was 15 and later sexually assaulted her at his London home. Walliams strongly denied any sexual contact with her.
Another woman alleged she was 15 when he first phoned her, and that sex began when she was 17. Walliams said he believed she was 18 at the time. His lawyers say any suggestion he groomed her is false.
In a statement to the publishers, Walliams said he was "devastated" by the claims. "I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law," he said.
Court bid and fallout
Walliams took legal action against the publishers, Independent Television News and Guardian News and Media, to stop publication. The High Court refused an injunction. Mr Justice Nicklin ruled it would be an "exceptionally serious interference" with freedom of expression, despite the risk Walliams said he would take his own life after two previous suicide attempts.
His literary agency, Independent Talent Group, has dropped him, and the BBC has begun removing his shows, including Little Britain.
The Met urged anyone with information to contact officers. "We know reporting allegations of this nature can be daunting," Cagney said, adding that specialist officers can answer questions and guide people through the process.
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