belfasttelegraph

Monday 20 May 2013

Freddie Starr lashes despicable Jimmy Savile as gravestone ground to dust

Funeral director Robert Morphet stands next to the grave of Sir Jimmy Savile in Woodlands Cemetery, Scarborough, where he assisted the local council in removing the headstone at the request of Savile's family.
Funeral director Robert Morphet stands next to the grave of Sir Jimmy Savile in Woodlands Cemetery, Scarborough, where he assisted the local council in removing the headstone at the request of Savile's family.
Freddie Starr has denied any wrongdoing after claims that he groped a teenager following the recording of one of Sir Jimmy Savile's show.
Funeral director Robert Morphet stands next to the grave of Sir Jimmy Savile in Woodlands Cemetery, Scarborough, where he assisted the local council in removing the headstone at the request of Savile's family
Jimmy Savile was never a hero but he was certainly held up as a great man
FILE - OCTOBER 01, 2012: ITV is scheduled to broadcast a documentary this Wednesday, "Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile", in which allegations are presented that the former television presenter and disc-jockey sexually abused teenage girls. 4th February 1965: Disc-jockey, Jimmy Savile poses by a portrait of himself, painted by a friend, while enjoying his regular breakfast of coke and a cigar in the Bloomsbury hotel room which he has made his home. (Photo by Chris Ware/Keystone Features/Getty Images)
FILE - OCTOBER 01, 2012: ITV is scheduled to broadcast a documentary this Wednesday, "Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile", in which allegations are presented that the former television presenter and disc-jockey sexually abused teenage girls. 4th February 1965: Disc-jockey, Jimmy Savile lights his breakfast cigar in the Bloomsbury hotel room which he has made his home. (Photo by Chris Ware/Keystone Features/Getty Images)
FILE - OCTOBER 01, 2012: ITV is scheduled to broadcast a documentary this Wednesday, "Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile", in which allegations are presented that the former television presenter and disc-jockey sexually abused teenage girls. 5th November 1973: Jimmy Savile OBE, British disc jockey, television broadcaster and charity fundraiser. (Photo by R. Poplowski/Fox Photos/Getty Images)
New abuse allegations surround the late Sir Jimmy Savile

The headstone that stood above Jimmy Savile's grave in Scarborough will be sent to landfill after his family ordered its removal.

And comedian Freddie Starr, who has been accused of touching a teenage fan, has branded Savile "despicable" and "disgusting" as he urged police to interview him so he can clear his name.

The extravagant tombstone was removed at midnight after Savile's family requested it be taken away out of "respect to public opinion".

The move came after police said they believe the "predatory sex offender" could have abused up to 25 victims over 40 years.

Savile's family said they made the decision to ensure the "dignity and sanctity" of Woodlands Cemetery in Scarborough.

The headstone, which bears the star's image and lists his accomplishments, including the epitaph "It was good while it lasted", was due to be removed at 7am today but work was brought forward to midnight to avoid unwanted attention, and out of respect for those with relatives in the graveyard.

It has now been taken to a stonemason's yard in Leeds where the inscription will be ground down and will then be broken up and sent to landfill.

69-year-old Starr and fiancee Sophie Lea, 34, presented a united front as they appeared on ITV's This Morning to refute claims that Starr was involved in groping a teenager.

One of Sir Jimmy's accusers has alleged Starr touched her when she was just 14 when they were both in a BBC dressing room.

Starr was named by Karin Ward who waived her right to anonymity to speak out about her claims of sexual abuse at the hands of Sir Jimmy. She said at one stage she was in the Top Of The Pops host's dressing room and claimed Starr, who was also present, "groped" her.

The comedian initially denied even being at a recording of a show starring Sir Jimmy but footage screened on Channel 4 News last night showed he was on the Clunk Click programme and was sitting only inches away from Ms Ward.

He now admits that he made a mistake because he appeared in "that many shows" but insisted he would "never, ever, ever touch an underage girl" and had never allowed people in his dressing room.

Asked about Sir Jimmy, he said: "I think he's abused his position. Despicable. There's no words to say about what that man's done and the way he conducted himself. That man's disgusting."

He urged police to contact him over what he described as "false accusations", adding: "I want to be questioned by the police. I want it badly."

The comedian also said he was suffering from palpitations as a result of the media storm and is having to go for a check-up at hospital.

Ms Lea said the 69-year-old has "never, ever" taken advantage of her.

"Freddie and I were friends for a long time before we ever got together. I was at a very vulnerable point in my life. He never ever took advantage of me. He was there totally as a friend and he's always been a gentleman, 100%. I don't think that this should ever have come out through the media.

"We want the police to get involved. We've got private investigators working on this because we know, and those that know Freddie know, that this is untrue."

The couple's age difference should not have anything to do with the claims, she said.

"We live in Great Britain, and in Great Britain you're innocent until proven guilty. There's been no police investigation into this. We have had no contact with the police and we want the police to get involved and get to the bottom of this, and we want to clear Freddie's name.

"You get people saying, 'oh he's got a younger partner, it must be true', but it doesn't mean anything.

"Regardless of our age difference, we were consenting adults when we met one another.

"It should make no difference that Freddie's with a younger fiancee, or there's any age difference. It does not mean that these allegations have any truth behind them whatsoever."

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