The ‘fantasist’ known as Nick emailed a detective to describe former Tory MP Harvey Proctor as ‘pure evil’ after seeing him on television denying claims he was part of a VIP Westminster paedophile ring, a court heard today.
Carl Beech had accused the politician of being a sadistic abuser and child murderer in a high-powered ring of abusers, which included security chiefs, Army top brass and the former prime minister Ted Heath.
Beech, 51, from Gloucester, is on trial at Newcastle Crown Court accused of fabricating his claims of the abuse and that he witnessed three boys being murdered. He denies 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one of fraud.
Carl Beech outside Newcastle Crown Court in March last year (left) and Harvey Proctor posing for a photograph ahead of a press conference in London on March 29, 2016 in London
In an email on March 5, 2015, to Detective Sergeant Danny Chatfield, his Metropolitan Police link, Beech wrote: ‘I watched Harvey Proctor on the news and he looks a lot older than he sounded on the radio, but the coldness is still there and I hoped he looked a little scared, but that might have been just wishful thinking.
‘In a funny way it was reassuring that his manner etc is still the same, he has just got older.
‘But for the first time seeing him standing there in his suit, I felt angry and I really hope there will be enough evidence to see him in court.
‘If pure evil can take a human form, it’s him.
‘I have seen some of the papers have carried his comments about not being at parties with generals and, as I said on the phone, I thought that was a strange comment from him as ranks have never been made public.’
The court has heard the prosecution say that Mr Proctor is entirely innocent and was ‘enraged’ by the accusations.
The jury also heard that Beech identified a boy he claimed to have seen murdered as the missing teenager Martin Allen, after he was shown black and white photos by the BBC journalist Tom Symonds.
The Metropolitan Police told the Allen family that ‘Nick’ had identified Martin as the boy he saw being killed, but they should treat the information with caution as there were discrepancies with his age and the time of the disappearance.
Mr Chatfield noted that Beech became tearful when he informed him that the family had been told his claims.
In a separate email, Beech also told Mr Chatfield: ‘I carry an enormous amount of guilt about the death of my friends – guilt that I survived.’
The trial has been told that the Metropolitan Police’s £2 million Operation Midland into his claims ended with no arrests.
Later, the court heard how Beech won the Metropolitan Police’s approval to speak to a reporter and appeal for other victims to come forward.
Beech emailed a detective the comments he wanted to give an Exaro News journalist about the on-going investigation into his claims about high-powered abusers in the 1970s and 1980s.
In March 2015 he sent Detective Sergeant Danny Chatfield the comments and the officer replied saying “I liked what you said”.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how Mr Chatfield, in the same email reply, told Beech the location of three police searches that had been carried out into his claims – in Westminster, Leyburn and Farnham – which the force had confirmed to Exaro, an online agency.
The jury heard the words Beech told his Metropolitan Police liaison officer he intended to give to Exaro, and asked for his opinion.
Beech wanted to tell Exaro: “I would like to make a personal request to all the boys who were hurt alongside me to come forward if you can, if you haven’t done so already.
“You won’t remember ‘Nick’ – it’s not my real name – but you will recognise what went on and where.”
He said he understood if people felt unable to come forward out of fear, but said “now is the right time”.
He added: “There are some excellent detectives from the Metropolitan Police working on the information I have given.
“They want to help, they want to listen, they are not frightened to go where the evidence takes them.”
He said it was not easy to come forward, but detectives “listened to me and believed me”, offered support and maintained his anonymity.
Beech appealed for any potential witnesses from the time to come forward, such as drivers, people who heard strange noises, or anyone who was suspicious about boys coming and going at all times.
He wrote: “Any piece of information, no matter how insignificant you think, might be useful to the police, it just might be the missing link.”
Mr Chatfield initially replied later that day saying: “The wording is fine with us so please go ahead.
“I really appreciate you asking for our view first and for providing us with the words.
“I liked what you say and hope it encourages others to come forward and help, so well done.”
The trial continues.
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