Carl Beech trial: No evidence in Westminster paedophile ring accuser's first claims, jury told

Accused thanked detective for investigating then asked for a crime number so he could apply for injuries compensation, court hears

(PA)

The first detective to investigate claims by a man that he was abused by a high-ranking paedophile ring could find no evidence and gave the case the official status of "undetected", a court has heard.

Detective Constable Mark Lewis carried out inquiries into lurid allegations that Carl Beech – who became known as “Nick” – was sexually abused by his army major stepfather, disgraced TV presenter Jimmy Savile and other unknown men in the Seventies.

Beech, 51, also said he thought high-ranking Saudi Arabian diplomats were involved, but he could not name them.

He denies making the accusations up and has pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one of fraud.

DC Mark Lewis, of Wiltshire Police, told Newcastle Crown Court on Friday that he had been unable to take his own investigation further.

In May 2013, he met Beech – who had made the accusations five months earlier – to update him and say the inquiry's official status had been declared "undetected".

He told the court that was a classification for a crime where all viable lines of inquiry have been explored and police have been unable to identify any offenders.

The detective said Beech was quiet, adding: "The one thing he confirmed was he was receiving counselling support and he did thank me for investigating the matter."

But in September 2013, Beech, from Gloucester, got back in touch with the detective to ask for a crime number so he could apply for criminal injuries compensation.

In further evidence given to the court on Friday, jurors were told details about Beech’s stepfather Major Ray Beech, who was briefly married to his mother in 1976.

Official army records, traced by the detective, revealed Ray Beech had a drink problem, a history of domestic violence and a record which stated he had a "personality disorder which led to him being dangerously explosive".

Jurors have already been told Beech was later to tell London’s Metropolitan Police that he and other boys were victims of a VIP Westminster paedophile ring and that he had witnessed three child murders. Among famous figures he implicated were former Conservative prime minister Sir Edward Heath, ex-Tory home secretary Lord Brittan and former head of the armed forces Lord Bramall.

The accusations led to the £2m Operation Midland investigation which included raids on the homes of several elderly suspects.

When that ended without any arrests, Northumbria Police was tasked with investigating Beech himself.

The vicar's son, who worked as a Care Quality Commission inspector, has previously been described in court as a "paedophile”.

The case continues and was adjourned until Wednesday.