Police drop sex abuse inquiry against Matthew Kelly after no evidence is found

No action is to be taken against the television presenter Matthew Kelly after an investigation into allegations that he sexually abused a boy, the police announced yesterday.

The 52-year-old entertainer has been cautioned for keeping a small quantity of cocaine at his home in London.

Mr Kelly was arrested last month by officers from Surrey Police investigating a claim that he and three other men sexually assaulted a boy aged under 16 in the 1970s.

After consulting the Crown Prosecution Service the police decided to drop the case because there was "insufficient evidence" to support the allegations of abuse. The police searched Mr Kelly's home and computer. They are understood to have found no evidence to corroborate the claims. A holiday home in Sri Lanka was also searched.

Mr Kelly was arrested in Birmingham on 15 January when he stepped offstage from a pantomime performance as Captain Hook.

The arrest was part of Operation Arundel, the inquiry that led to the jailing of the music producer and presenter Jonathan King.

Two men are still on bail in connection with the sex abuse investigation and another man has been interviewed under caution. Speaking outside Staines police station in west London yesterday, Mr Kelly said: "I strenuously denied the allegation when interviewed by the police and have given them all possible assistance with the investigation they were under a duty to carry out.

"I was always confident my name would be cleared in due course. However, it's been a very anxious and upsetting time for me and my family, not least because of press coverage at the time of my arrest.

"In the course of the police investigation a search of my London home was carried out which resulted in a small quantity of class A drugs being found. They were for my personal and occasional use only. I recognise the use of such drugs is both illegal and foolish," Mr Kelly said.

Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Denholm, who headed the inquiry, said: "The allegation has now been thoroughly investigated, including the undertaking of searches, computer examination and witness interviews. Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service it has been decided there is insufficient evidence to support the allegation against Mr Kelly." Granada and ITV, which make the show Stars In Their Eyes, hosted by Mr Kelly, said that they looked forward to the return of the presenter.