Bashir faces private prosecution after police drop Diana inquiry
EARL SPENCER’S former head of security is to launch a private prosecution against Martin Bashir after Scotland Yard said it would not conduct a criminal investigation into the BBC journalist, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.
Alan Waller lodged an official complaint with the Metropolitan Police last month, accusing the former Panorama reporter of faking bank statements to dupe the Earl and help land his exclusive interview with his sister, Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1995.
The former paratrooper who worked for Earl Spencer in the mid-1990s asked Scotland Yard to formally investigate Mr Bashir for alleged fraud offences.
But in a statement yesterday, the Met said after assessing the evidence it would not to pursue the matter.
Anton van Dellen, Mr Waller’s lawyer, said he would be launching a private prosecution. If successful, Mr Bashir potentially faces imprisonment for offences under the 1968 Theft Act.
During Mr Bashir’s TV interview, the princess spoke of there being three people in her marriage to the Prince of Wales. It later emerged that Mr Bashir had asked Matt Wiessler, a freelance graphic artist paid by the BBC, to mock up the bank statements ahead of a meeting with Earl Spencer.
The documents purported to show a £4,000 payment from a tabloid newspaper to a firm owned by Mr Waller. A second statement alleged Mr Waller received £6,500 from an offshore company, with reports suggesting it was designed to give the impression this company was a front for MI5 or MI6, who were paying Mr Waller to keep the princess under surveillance.
Lawyers said Mr Waller had suffered “significant reputational and financial loss” as a result of Mr Bashir’s actions.
Mr van Dellen added: “We are disappointed by the Metropolitan Police’s decision.
“We intend to commence a private prosecution and letters of interview will be sent to Matt Wiessler and Martin Bashir.” Mr Bashir and Mr Wiessler will have 14 days to respond.
The BBC has appointed Lord Dyson, a former master of the rolls, to lead an inquiry into what steps the BBC and Mr Bashir took to secure the interview.
Scotland Yard has said it will assess any fresh allegations that come to light. Mr Bashir is currently signed off sick as he recovers from heart bypass surgery and also complications from Covid-19.