Heath inquiry condemned for paedophile’s ‘victim’ status

BRITAIN’S biggest child sex abuse charity has condemned Wiltshire Police for labelling a serial paedophile a “victim” over claims he was raped by Sir Edward Heath as a child.

The 68-year-old man, who is in jail for child abuse, alleges that the former prime minister raped him in 1961 when he was 11.

The rape claim is the most serious accusation that Wiltshire Police was able to produce after a £1.5 million, two-year inquiry that has shredded Sir Edward’s reputation.

A Daily Telegraph investigation has shown the man has a string of convictions for child sex abuse dating back almost 50 years. Three siblings contacted by this newspaper have no recollection of their brother being abducted and then raped by Sir Edward as he claims. Wiltshire Police failed to interview any of the relations about the rape allegation 56 years ago.

Peter Saunders, founder of the national Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac), condemned police last night for bestowing victim status on the paedophile. As a result, the child

‘When people commit that level of abuse they ought to be legitimately stripped of all their human rights’

abuser is guaranteed lifelong anonymity which prevents The Telegraph publishing his name.

Mr Saunders, who is also a senior adviser to the Government’s national child sex abuse inquiry, said: “It is not helpful to confer victim status on somebody with such an appalling record of hurting children whatever the circumstances and whatever the background.”

Mr Saunders, widely respected as the leading campaigner for the rights of abuse survivors, added: “When people commit that level of abuse they ought to be legitimately stripped of all their human rights. They have ruined lives. It is misguided for the police to give this man victimhood status.”

Napac said it was “disturbing if a predatory paedophile is masquerading as a victim”. The Telegraph disclosed last week how two siblings had no recollection of their brother being abducted as he claimed as he walked along the A2 in Kent. He alleged he was picked up by Sir Edward and raped in his flat. The siblings, then aged five and 10, said the boy never went missing.

Police launched an inquiry in August 2015 with an appeal for “victims” outside his home.

Sir Edward died in 2005.