VIP paedophile ring accuser ‘worked for Childline’
Alleged abuse victim ‘Nick’ gave talks about his ordeal and said he volunteered at charity advising children
THE alleged fantasist whose allegations prompted the VIP paedophile investigation claims to have worked as a volunteer for Childline, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.
Nick – whose real identity cannot be revealed for legal reasons – told the organisers of an international conference at which he was speaking that he had worked for the charity, offering advice to children suffering abuse themselves.
The Telegraph discovered that Nick had been travelling the world giving presentations to paying delegates about his alleged ordeal.
In the brochure for one conference he boasted of having worked as a volunteer for Childline in recent years.
Despite serious questions over the truth of his allegations, Childline has been unable to verify whether he worked for them because the law dictates that his name must remain secret.
As an alleged sex abuse victim, Nick has lifelong anonymity, meaning it would be an offence for The Telegraph to reveal his real name, even to the charity.
Last night a spokesman for the NSPCC, which runs Childline, said: “Without being given any details whatsoever we simply cannot confirm whether this individual’s claims are true or not.”
The anonymity ruling can only be lifted by a court order and remains in place even though Nick is facing possible charges for allegedly lying about his ordeal.
Following a lengthy investigation by Northumbria Police, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is considering whether to prosecute him for perverting the course of justice.
He could also face prosecution for fraud after it emerged that he had received thousands of pounds from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
Scotland Yard launched its ill-fated Operation Midland investigation in Nov 2014 after Nick went to police claiming to have been raped and abused by VIP paedophile ring in the late Seventies and Eighties. He also alleged that he had witnessed the murder of a number of young boys at the hands of the group.
Among those he claimed took part in the shocking abuse were Edward Heath, the late former Tory prime minister; Leon Brittan, the late former home secretary; Lord Bramall, the former head of the army; Harvey Proctor, a former Tory MP; and the late Maurice Oldfield, the former head of MI6.
Around the same time Nick made his complaints to the police, he also travelled to the United States where he spoke at a major international conference on child abuse.
As well as speaking about his ordeal, he ran a series of workshops describing how he had come to terms with the abuse and had managed to forge a professional career.
However, his allegations later began to unravel and the Met has since apologised and paid out hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation to those who had their reputations besmirched during the investigation.
A decision from the CPS on whether to charge Nick is expected in the new year.