Who are the victims?

The high-profile men accused of belonging to The Group and abusing young boys

Sir Edward Heath

Served as prime minister from 1970 to 1974. Died in 2005, aged 89. Beech claimed he first met Heath when he was taken to the Carlton Club in London in the late Seventies. He told police the former prime minister had abused him aboard his yacht, Morning Cloud. He also claimed Mr Heath had intervened to prevent Harvey Proctor castrating him with a penknife.

Lord Brittan

Home Secretary from 1983 until 1985. Died 2015 aged 75 while still under suspicion. Beech claimed to have met him for the first time at the Carlton Club and said he had repeatedly subjected him to abuse. Beech lied to police, telling officers the former home secretary had raped him over a bath and had also been present when boys were murdered. Scotland Yard detectives raided Lady Brittan’s home after her husband had died. They later paid her £100,000 in compensation.

Michael Hanley

Former director general of MI5. Died in 2001 aged 82. Beech told police Mr Hanley had been one of the cruellest of the abusers and would mete out punishment when he broke the rules. He claimed Mr Hanley had once kidnapped his dog, had set wasps on him and had thrown him in a cupboard with a snake.

Harvey Proctor

Tory MP between 1979 and 1987. Beech told police Mr Proctor had been the most sadistic of the group, claiming he liked to inflict pain while he was carrying out the abuse. He lied to police, claiming to have seen Mr Proctor murder a boy during a sex game. Mr Proctor’s home was raided by police and as a result he lost the property and his job. He is currently suing Scotland Yard.

Lord Bramall

Former head of the Army and D-day veteran, Beech claimed Lord Bramall had first abused him at Wilton Barracks where his stepfather was a major. He also accused the retired general of being present at pool parties where children were abused. Lord Bramall’s home was raided by police at a time when his wife was suffering from dementia. She died while her husband was still under suspicion. He was later paid £100,000 in compensation.

General Sir Hugh Beach

Former deputy commander in chief of UK land forces. Beech claimed Sir Hugh had been one of the senior army figures who had abused him at various military establishments around the UK. Now 96, he gave evidence during the trial via video link in which he described the allegations as “beyond grotesque”.

Lord Janner

Former Labour MP and Peer. Died in 2015 aged 87. Beech claimed he had first met Janner at the Carlton Club, an allegation that caused the police to become suspicious because as a Labour politician he would not have been welcome at the Conservative Party gentleman’s club.

Maurice Oldfield

Former head of MI6, who died in 1981, aged 65. According to Beech, Mr Oldfield was part of the “inner circle of abusers”. He told police Mr Oldfield tortured him with spiders, wasps, snakes and darts. Mr Oldfield, who served in the intelligence corps during the Second World War, later became the head of MI6 and was reputedly one of the models for John le Carre’s fictional character, George Smiley.

Field Marshal Roland Gibbs

Former Chief of the General Staff. Died in 2004 aged 83 Beech claimed Gibbs had been among the senior military officials who had abused him at bases around the country.

Major Raymond Beech

Beech’s stepfather. Died in Brighton in 1995. His marriage to Beech’s mother, Charmian, lasted less than a year, but during that time, Beech said he was regularly abused. Beech also accused his stepfather of introducing him to members of The Group, including his military superiors. Beech hired a private detective to make sure his stepfather was dead before going to the police with his allegations.