A saga of lies, staggering police incompetence and shocking political gullibility
The conviction of Carl Beech for fabricating allegations of an Establishment paedophile ring marks the end of a saga of lies, staggering police incompetence and shocking political gullibility. It has shredded the reputations of innocent people, several of whom have died and cannot defend themselves. Beech, who was given the pseudonym “Nick” while his claims were investigated, was found guilty of 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one of fraud over a £22,000 criminal compensation payout. However, he is not really a fraudster but a fantasist, and should have been recognised as such from the moment he began touting his story around to credulous listeners.
He alleged that he was the victim of a Westminster-based paedophile network that included a former prime minister, an ex-home secretary and various heads of the intelligence services and the military. Not only had they abused children, he claimed, but they had taken part in murder, and dark forces had covered it all up.
The context for what then transpired was the failure of the police properly to investigate the late Jimmy Savile, a prolific sex offender. In Oct 2012, Tom Watson, now Labour deputy leader, told MPS that he knew of the existence of “clear intelligence suggesting a powerful paedophile network linked to parliament and No 10”. This referred to another case but alerted Beech to a potentially friendly ear after failing to interest Wiltshire Police in his story.
He was urged by Mr Watson to go back to the police who were, by now, committed to believing any sex abuse complaint, however outlandish. Basic checks that would have disproved Beech’s lurid claims were not carried out. A homicide inquiry was set up solely on the basis of his unsubstantiated allegations and, against this backdrop, Theresa May as home secretary instigated a public inquiry into historic sex abuse. One senior police officer even called this farrago of obviously fanciful tales “credible and true”. They were neither.
This was a shameful episode for the police, though they still insist they did everything right; and Mr Watson must share culpability. Many observing him on this matter formed a clear impression of a scandal at the heart of the Tory establishment, and Mr Watson did little to disabuse them as the lives of innocent people were dragged in and destroyed. He should apologise today in the Commons.