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Sir Edward Heath: The seven sex abuse allegations the late PM would have faced questions over

Operation Conifer says the former Conservative leader would have been interviewed under caution over paedophilia claims made against him

Claire Hayhurst
Thursday 05 October 2017 11:42 BST
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Sir Edward, who led a Conservative government in the early 1970s, died in 2005 aged 89
Sir Edward, who led a Conservative government in the early 1970s, died in 2005 aged 89 (PA)

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Sir Edward Heath would have been interviewed under caution to hear his account of seven allegations against him, the Operation Conifer report states.

The claims, between 1961 and 1992, relate to a period when Sir Edward was MP for Bexley, MP for Sidcup and MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup.

He was also Lord Privy Seal for two of the allegations, leader of the Conservative Party for one, Father of the House for one and Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development for another.

The allegations are:

Allegation 1

Date of offence: 1961

Date reported: April 2015

Location: The Metropolitan Police Service area

Office: MP for Bexley, Lord Privy Seal

Summary: Sir Edward allegedly raped and indecently assaulted a male, aged 11, during a paid sexual encounter in private in a dwelling.

Allegation 2

Date of offence: 1962

Date reported: August 2015

Location: Kent

Office: MP for Bexley, Lord Privy Seal

Summary: Sir Edward, in the company of an unknown adult male, allegedly indecently assaulted a 10-year-old boy during a chance encounter in a public place.

Allegation 3

Date of offence: around 1964

Date reported: June 2016

Location: Sussex and the Metropolitan Police Service area

Office: MP for Bexley, Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development

Summary: Sir Edward allegedly indecently assaulted a 15-year-old boy during three paid sexual encounters.

Allegation 4

Date of offence: 1967

Date reported: August 2015

Location: Guernsey

Office: MP for Bexley, Leader of the Conservative Party (Opposition)

Summary: Sir Edward allegedly indecently assaulted a 15-year-old boy, not known to him, in private during a chance encounter in a public building.

Allegation 5

Date of offence: 1976

Date reported: February 2016

Location: Jersey

Office: MP for Sidcup

Summary: Sir Edward allegedly assaulted, over clothing, an adult male during a chance encounter at a public event.

Allegation 6

Date of offence: about 1992

Date reported: January 2016

Location: Wiltshire

Office: MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, Father of the House

Summary: Sir Edward allegedly indecently assaulted an adult male after consent was withdrawn, in what had been a paid consensual sexual encounter in a hotel.

Allegation 7

Date of offence: Between 1990 and 1992

Date reported: August 2015

Location: Wiltshire

Office: MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup

Summary: Sir Edward allegedly indecently assaulted a male, aged between 12 and 14 years, who was not known to him, in private during a chance encounter in private gardens.

The report states that there is “undermining evidence” for allegation seven, though Sir Edward would still have been interviewed about it under caution.

PA

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