Gambaccini sues police over false sex abuse claims
PAUL Gambaccini is suing police for up to £150,000 after being shunned by “high-profile celebrities” when he was falsely accused of sexual abuse, court papers reveal.
The radio presenter launched the case after he was arrested as part of Operation Yewtree, the investigation into sexual abuse allegations that followed revelations about paedophile Jimmy Savile.
Gambaccini, 71, is claiming aggravated damages. He claims the information released by the force led to him being identified, which had a “catastrophic effect on all aspects” of his life.
The claim states: “He was extremely distressed and upset to be publicly suspected of sexual crimes and the implications this would have on his life.
Breach
“Although the allegations were false, some of the claimant’s friends, colleagues and contacts shunned him and his relationships with these people have not all been restored. These included several high-profile celebrities.”
Gambaccini said he was not invited back to the Music Industry Trusts Dinner, an event he had hosted annually since the 1990s, and was suspended by the BBC while on bail.
The claim states he was edited out of ITV’s show The Nation’s Favourite Elvis Songs.
An entire Radio 2 programme he had contributed to was indefinitely postponed, it was said.
Gambaccini was arrested in October 2013 and spent a year on bail facing “completely fictitious” allegations before the case was dropped. He has issued court proceedings for “misuse of private information” which led to him being identified. The papers state he is seeking “damages over £100,000 but not exceeding £150,000”.
The legal costs for both sides are expected to reach tens of thousands, with the loser normally having to foot the bill.
The DJ says public comments made by the Met Police were in breach of its own media guidelines.
The Met did not name him but referred to his age and the fact he lived in south London.
This contributed to him identified, the papers state.
The DJ was falsely accused of molesting two young men – whom he does not recall ever meeting – in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The Met states in a defence document filed at the High Court: “The defendant denies that the information released amounted to private information. The claim for misuse of private information and/or breach of privacy is denied.” being