Freddie Starr rebailed over alleged sexual offences

Comedian was arrested in November under the "Savile and others" strand and then re-arrested in April, under the strand unrelated to Savile

Freddie Starr (Getty Images)

The lawyer for comedian Freddie Starr said today the performer is hopeful he will soon be able to clear his name after being investigated for alleged sexual offences.

Starr, 70, has been bailed for another two months over allegations of sexual offences after he was first arrested in November as part of Operation Yewtree, the investigation sparked in the wake of the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal.

The performer was re-arrested in April under additional allegations, and today Scotland Yard re-bailed him until August 28 and he was not required to attend a police station.

Starr's lawyer Dean Dunham said: "Mr Starr was due to answer bail today, Wednesday June 19. However, the police have decided to re-bail him to August 28 and in the circumstances he was not required to attend the police station today.

"Mr Starr has maintained his innocence throughout and has assisted the police with their inquiries at all times.

"We are hopeful that the police inquiries are drawing close to a conclusion at which time Mr Starr will be able to confirm that he has publicly cleared his good name and reputation."

Operation Yewtree has been run in three strands - allegations against Savile, those against Savile and others, and those against others.

Starr was originally arrested under the "Savile and others" strand, but the re-arrest was not linked to the disgraced DJ.

He has consistently denied all the allegations against him.

So far 13 people have been arrested under Operation Yewtree, of whom two have been charged and three told that they will face no further action.

The remainder are on police bail.

PR guru Max Clifford and former driver David Smith have both been charged in separate court cases.

Smith, 66, from Lewisham in south east London, is accused of two counts of indecent assault, two of gross indecency and one of buggery in 1984 and is next due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on July 12.

Clifford, 70, from Hersham in Surrey, faces 11 counts relating to seven alleged victims, aged from 14 to 19, between 1966 and 1985, which he denies.

He is due to face trial next year.

Former BBC producers Wilfred De'ath and Ted Beston have both been told they will face no further action, as has a 65-year-old man who was arrested in south London in February.

Those who remain on police bail include former pop star Gary Glitter, comedian Jim Davidson and TV presenter Rolf Harris.

PA