Detectives who investigated Jimmy Savile's prolific sexual abuse have expressed concern that online trolls may resurface following the release of a convicted paedophile from prison. The detective, who led the inquiry into Savile's crimes, warned that the abuser's release could reignite harassment from those who defended the late entertainer.
Savile, who died in 2011, is believed to have abused around 500 victims, including children as young as two, at hospitals, schools, and BBC studios. An independent inquiry found he assaulted 60 people at Leeds General Infirmary alone. The earliest recorded abuse occurred in 1955, and his peak offending period lasted from 1966 to 1976.
Despite multiple investigations, Savile was never prosecuted. In 2009, Surrey police interviewed him under caution over an alleged indecent assault, but the Crown Prosecution Service decided there was insufficient evidence. The last recorded offence took place that same year, when a 43-year-old woman was assaulted on a train.
The detective's fears come amid ongoing scrutiny of how institutions failed to stop Savile. A BBC Newsnight investigation into his abuse was shelved in 2011, sparking controversy. The programme's editor later faced criticism for pulling the story, which was eventually exposed by other media outlets.
