Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
VIP sex accuser ‘Nick’ revealed in fraud trial
Charged over ‘false claims’
A MAN whose allegations sparked the Westminster sex abuse probe has been named for the first time.
Carl Beech is accused of 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one count of fraud. He was previously known by the pseudonym “Nick”.
The 50-year-old is said to have falsely claimed the late ex-pm Sir Ted Heath, ex-home Secretary Leon Brittan and Tory MP Harvey Proctor abused boys at sex parties.
He is also alleged to have made false allegations he saw Mr Proctor strangle and beat two children to death, and saw another child being murdered.
The homes of ex-head of the British Army Lord Bramall and the late Lord Brittan were raided due to his claims.
A £2.5million police investigation closed having found no evidence of wrongdoing.
It is alleged Beech made fake claims that led to the Operation Midland probe. One charge says he “falsely alleged that he had been sexually and physically abused by a paedophile ring, with senior ranking officers within the military and military intelligence, a TV presenter and other unidentified men accused…”
He also faces a fraud charge over a £22,000 payout after claims he was a “victim”. At Newcastle crown court yesterday, he spoke via videolink only to confirm his name.
Judge Paul Sloan lifted a reporting restriction which prevented the media from identifying the defendant.
Beech faces trial in May next year. At a hearing last month, his barrister Raymond Tully said: “We anticipate the matter will be fully contested.”
The Met Police launched Operation Midland after allegations of a VIP paedophile ring operating in Westminster.