But no inquiry into It’s A Knockout pervert
THE BBC is expecting to pay compensation (so the TV Licence Payer) to Stuart Hall’s victims, Lord Patten revealed yesterday.
The BBC Trust chairman said he had been left sickened by the “awful allegations and stories” surrounding the TV star.
However, he ruled out setting up a full inquiry into his activities, like the one launched into Jimmy Savile.
Shamed Hall, 83, has admitted indecently assaulting 13 girls — including one aged nine — during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
The former It’s A Knockout presenter was described as an “opportunistic predator” after appearing at Preston Crown Court, Lancs, on Thursday.
Asked if the corporation would make payouts to the victims, Lord Patten said: “I imagine so, but that will be a matter for the lawyers and conceivably the courts.
“First of all what needs to happen is that we need to be able to get a grip on what happened and of course, in the meantime, co-operate with the police.”
Former BBC producer Linda McDougall has told how Hall would entertain “lady friends” in an old medical room while waiting to go on screen in Manchester.
But Lord Patten said he was reluctant to set up a full inquiry into his behaviour while a BBC employee. He said: “I think to set up a new inquiry, when there is already one which is extremely well-resourced operating, would probably delay arriving at the truth.
“If we need to do more, we will. At the end of the day, what we have to do is to provide answers which will satisfy people that we have been prepared to deal with our own dirty washing.”
He added: “It’s a different case from the Savile case because the main person who is alleged to have committed these crimes — who has committed these crimes, he has owned up to some of them — is actually alive.”
STUART Hall is proof that those accused of crimes must be named, a former top cop has claimed. Ex-Met Police chief Lord Ian Blair said that if Hall’s identity had been protected, more of his victims would not have come forward.
His warning came as a survey showed nearly a third of police forces were keeping the names of suspects secret — even after they had been charged.