A whistleblowing former glamour model has warned that the seven women accusing billionaire porn baron and West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan of sexual misconduct could represent just the “tip of the iceberg.”
Essex Police confirmed they have received fresh information following a series of allegations against Sullivan that emerged this week. The force stated they had “received some contact and inquiries into those are now under way.” This new information is separate from the claims made by seven women in a BBC Panorama investigation, which detailed allegations of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour dating back to the 1980s.
Former Model Speaks Out
Sacha Wall, a former city broker turned Page 3 model and one of the women making claims against the 77-year-old Sullivan, said: “There’s so much more I want to say and so much more to come out, this is just the tip of the iceberg as many of you know.”
Wall, now 52, who first encountered Sullivan in 1988 when she was 24, added: “I know there are so many more out there, and I appeal to all to reach out to me with no fear of his power anymore.”
Sullivan's Background
Sullivan began his career selling bundles of topless photographs before amassing a fortune from low-market pornographic magazines that dominated newsagent top shelves in the 1980s. He later launched the near-X-rated Sport newspapers, further boosting his wealth. Throughout his career, Sullivan has boasted of a prolific sex life, once claiming to have slept with nearly 1,000 women in a year, and has admitted to hiring sex workers.
Beneath his public persona, there have long been hints of more sinister behaviour. In the 1990s, he was given the nickname “No job/blow job” – a reference to his reputation for asking models to perform oral sex on him in return for featuring in his publications. He was also quoted as saying: “I've always said what's the point in owning a sweet shop if you can't eat a few sweets.”
Allegations of Abuse of Power
Three of the women who spoke out claimed that Sullivan abused his power as the boss of the Daily and Sunday Sport newspapers to coerce them into sex. One woman, identified only as Florence, said she felt forced to have sex with him when she did not want to after being invited to his Essex mansion for a career meeting. Sullivan disputes her recollection of the layout of his house, arguing it makes her claims implausible.
Two other women said they felt they had no choice but to have sex with Sullivan or risk damaging their careers. A further four accused him of other predatory behaviour. The nature of the new information shared with Essex police is unclear.
Previous Investigations
Sullivan vehemently denies any illegal conduct or wrongdoing, calling the allegations in The Times and BBC Panorama “false” and “sensationalised.” Essex Police and the Metropolitan Police have received disclosures about Sullivan from eight women over the years, but he has never been charged. In 2008, he was arrested and interviewed over an accusation of non-consensual sexual touching by a 25-year-old woman, but no further action was taken. Another investigation in 2021, after advice from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), also led to no further action. In 2023, a review of historical sexual offence allegations again resulted in no charges after “early investigative advice” from the CPS.
BBC Presenter Steps Down
Following the Panorama broadcast, BBC presenter Tony Livesey temporarily stepped down from his Radio 5 Live show after being named in the investigation. A glamour model claimed she was lured into a sexual encounter with Sullivan to secure work. Livesey, who previously edited Sullivan's Sport newspapers, has “firmly denied” the allegations. The BBC said it is “considering the matters raised.”
West Ham and Safeguarding
In April, Sullivan's right-hand woman at West Ham, Karren Brady, quit the club. Brady, who met Sullivan at age 18 and was made managing director of Birmingham City at 23, has not commented on the Panorama investigation. Over the past three years, Sullivan has reportedly been barred from contact with West Ham's women's and youth teams over safeguarding concerns. The FA opened a safeguarding probe in 2023 after receiving allegations, leading to a ban on Sullivan accessing youth and women's teams and attending their matches.
In a statement through his lawyers, Sullivan said: “I categorically deny all of these complaints. After a lifetime spent building businesses in the adult industry in which I have met thousands of women, it is sadly inevitable that a small number of improper conduct claims are being made against me. I categorically deny these claims.” He added that he reserves all legal rights regarding any false or defamatory allegations.
