A shocking revelation in a research report could mar the memory of an iconic BBC entertainer. According to a report by National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children for BBC Panorama, reports of abuse lodged against former BBC presenter Jimmy Saville totaled at least 500. The ages of the majority of the alleged victims of the British personality ranges from 13 to 15, but the youngest victim who had supposedly experienced abuse from Saville was two at the time.
The latest discovery by NSPCC easily debunks the previous tally of around 200 victims by the late celebrity. The former "Top of The Pops" and "Jim'll Fix It" presenter had died almost three years ago in October.
NSPPC said in its latest report that its helpline had received 50 additonal reports of abuse allegedly at the hands of Saville since it has published its joint report with the Metropolitan Police in January last year. Apart from hospitals, accounts of Saville's abuse were also said to have occurred on BBC premises, and at children's homes. The children's charity also discovered that Saville at that time saw himself as above the law, especially when he spent time at Broadmoor psychiatric hospital. Saville then was appointed to lead a special task force, of which its aim is to reform the hospital, BBC said.
Edwina Currie, who approved Saville's appointment at the hospital, reasoned about her decision to BBC, "Our efforts to try to improve matters at Broadmoor came up against a very severe brick wall. And it was the senior civil servant in charge of Broadmoor who thought he might be able to do something. Bear in mind Savile had been in and out for donkey's years. So why not ask if he could help to improve matters?"
Currie, in her defense, said that there were no official complaints lodged against Saville during his time at the hospital. It was later learned that there have been 16 reports at least of abuse by Saville at the hospital.
Chandar Ghose, who was a former senior psychiatrist at Broadmoor, explained by people had been shy to report Saville then. She said, "These were people that nobody believed. So if they had in fact turned round and said he had abused them or raped them, nobody would have believed them. You know, this was Mr Savile, you know, Jim'll Fix It."
