West Ham United billionaire David Sullivan has been accused of predatory sexual behaviour in a new BBC Panorama investigation. The programme, titled "Predator: The Billionaire Football Boss," features allegations from seven women who claim Sullivan sexually exploited them when they were young models seeking work at his Daily and Sunday Sport newspapers. Sullivan, 77, categorically denies all claims.
Allegations of Sexual Exploitation
The women, who were in their late teens or early twenties at the time, describe encounters where they felt pressured into sex. One woman, using the pseudonym Florence, said she felt forced to have sex with Sullivan despite not wanting to. Another, Mia, claimed she went to his house for a meeting and felt she had no choice but to have sex to be featured in the paper. Two women said they visited with their mothers and accused Sullivan of pressuring them into sex. A teenage model, Beth, found Sullivan lying in bed in a dressing gown and was asked to parade topless.
Sacha Wall's Account
Sacha Wall, the only alleged victim named in the investigation, was a 24-year-old glamour model in 1998. She expected a business meeting at an Essex address but discovered it was Sullivan's private home. She recalls being told to change, then asked to remove her bra and sit next to him. When she refused, Sullivan said she could be in the paper if she became one of his "special friends." She declined and found the door locked, panicking until Sullivan opened it, allowing her to flee.
Florence's Testimony
Florence, 20 at the time, claims Sullivan promised to advance her career if she had sex at his mansion. She tried to refuse by saying she was on her period and her boyfriend was waiting, but alleges Sullivan persisted and eventually had sex with her. She provided diary entries, business cards, and newspaper cuttings to support her account. Sullivan disputes the layout of the house, calling her claims implausible.
Sullivan's Denial and Resignation
Sullivan stepped down as joint chairman of West Ham on June 6, shortly before the programme aired. In a statement, he said he resigned out of love for the club and to fight "false allegations." He added, "After a lifetime spent building businesses in the adult industry... it is sadly inevitable that a small number of improper conduct claims are being made against me." He plans to sue the BBC for libel and remains the largest shareholder with a 38.8% stake, reportedly looking to sell.
Background on Sullivan
Known as the "king of porn," Sullivan built a media, property, and publishing empire from his Essex mansion. He launched The Sunday Sport in 1986 and the Daily Sport in 1991. He co-owned Birmingham City from 1993 and West Ham from 2010. The investigation also alleges he admitted paying for sex in the 1990s with a girl he believed was 16 or 17, which was not illegal until 2003.
