Ted Heath’s key accuser is a paedophile

Sir Edward Heath’s main accuser has today been unmasked as a convicted paedophile now in jail as a criminologist on the £1.5m inquiry said police demanded he prove the late MP was guilty.

The alleged victim claims the former prime minister raped him as an 11-year-old during a paid-for sex session at a London house in 1961.

But the man, who cannot be named and is now in his 60s, is a currently serving a long prison sentence for his campaign of sexual abuse of a teenager.

The convicted paedophile has previously been jailed for other abuse and has a history of dishonesty and uses several aliases, according to the Daily Mirror.

Wiltshire Police put his rape claim at the centre of its investigation and says it is one of seven credible allegations Sir Edward would be questioned under caution over had he not died in 2005.

But his past raised more questions over the force’s two-year £1.5million inquiry and the politician’s godson Lincoln Seligman told the paper last night: ‘The revelation that the man at the centre of these claims is of questionable character raises serious questions over the veracity of the evidence’. 

Police have spent £1.5million investigating sexual abuse allegations against Sir Edward Heath, including £14,000 on spin to defend the controversial probe. He is pictured on his racing yacht Morning Cloud in 1975 where six people wrongly claimed he abused and murdered children on board

Police made an appeal for ‘victims’ outside his Salisbury mansion in 2015 (pictured) – but his loved-ones claim this proved police assumed he was guilty and the chief constable admitted this was a mistake

Sir Edward’s godson Lincoln Seligman, 67, pictured yesterday, says the police actively encouraged fantasists to come forward and says Sir Ted had ‘no interest in children

Army paedophile rings, satanic cults and yacht murders: The outlandish claims finally dismissed

After two years, more than £1.5million in taxpayers’ money and 1,580 investigative lines of enquiry, police have finally dismissed 35 outlandish accusations against Sir Edward Heath.

Yesterday it was revealed that among the ‘fantasy’ claims that officers eventually abandoned were:

• 19 allegations ruled out because there was evidence it could not have taken place or police knew the person making the claims lacked credibility;
• Six victims made disclosures including allegations that Sir Edward was involved in satanic or ritual abuse – but there was no evidence;
• Five people alleged abuse and murder took place on board ex-PM’s yacht morning cloud – but there were no witnesses and no missing children;
• Sir Edward was part of a military paedophile ring – two men were arrested but released because there was ‘no link’ to politician or alleged victim;
• Two people ‘intentionally misled’ the police. One was given a caution for wasting police time and the other is subject to an ongoing investigation;
• One person made allegations of abuse under three different names;
• Three people who said Sir Edward abused them later said they were mistaken when questioned;
• Some allegations were made anonymously, second hand or on behalf of the dead;
• 104 close protections officers, chauffeurs, nurses, staff at his Salisbury mansion, military, civil servants and former colleagues were interviewed and found no information that linked him to child sexual abuse 

Sir Edward aboard his yacht Morning Cloud in Gosport, Hampshire

DISMISSED: Abuse and murder aboard Sir Edward’s yacht Morning Cloud

Among the most incredible accusations was that Sir Edward sexually abused children and even murdered them on his yachts.

A keen sailor, Sir Edward owned five yachts between 1969 and 1983, all of which he named Morning Cloud.

Police received five separate accusations of crimes committed aboard vessels and carried out ‘extensive enquiries’ into his sailing history.

As racing yachts require a significant crew, police were able to track down 34 former workers, 15 of which answered questions posed by officers.

Not one of those former crew members linked Sir Edward to any instances of child abuse, or that children were even ever taken aboard his various boats.

All of the accusations were dismissed by police officers, who were also unable to link the murder claims to any missing children cases.

Sir Edward Heath is pictured during his time in the Royal Artillery during the Second World War

DISMISSED: Involvement in a British Army paedophile ring

A lieutenant colonel who served in the Royal Artillery during the Second World War, Sir Edward had a close affinity with the military and maintained several friendships from his time in service.

Two people accused the former soldier of taking part in a paedophile ring based at ‘military settings’ in Wiltshire.

Another two people with links to the British Army were also accused of involvement in the same ring, and were arrested and interviewed by police.

However they were eventually released without charge, and no evidence was found that linked either of the men to Sir Edward.

In July, it was reported that three of Sir Edward’s alleged victims were sisters whose father was based at Wilton Barracks in Wiltshire.

Another complainant, who was later discredited, also had a step-father at the same barracks.

It was later discovered that the two men served alongside each other for eight years, meaning all the complainants could have known each other and possibly colluded their stories.

Sir Edward was accused of stabbing youngsters in churches and burnt babies in satanic orgies before men, women and children gorged themselves on blood

DISMISSED: Stabbing children in churches and burning babies in satanic orgies

Police say six victims made disclosures including allegations that Sir Edward was involved in satanic or ritual abuse.

The paedophile ring – which they say Sir Edward was part of – stabbed, tortured and maimed youngsters in churches and burnt babies in satanic orgies before men, women and children gorged themselves on blood and body parts, police were told.

The seemingly far-fetched allegations were made by a family who allege that the politician was part of a satanic sex cult run by their own parents. 

This included a combination of emotional, physical, sexual and/or spiritual abuse with the abuse committed using symbols, ceremonies and/or group activities with a religious or supernatural meaning.

‘Two of the alleged victims of ritual abuse died before Operation Conifer commenced,’ the report states.

‘They had made disclosures of alleged ritual abuse where it was alleged that Sir Edward was a perpetrator.

‘There was limited opportunity to investigate those disclosure further.’

In November, Dr Richard Hoskins, who was enlisted by detectives to examine evidence, said he had ‘exposed a catalogue of fabrication’ at the heart of the probe.

He also warned the force it should immediately end its investigation into a key accuser’s ‘pernicious’ claims of satanic ritual abuse – one of 35 claims found to be fantasy, false or flimsy.

Writing for the Times he said: ‘They believed from the outset that Edward Heath was guilty. That is all they wanted me to prove. When I appeared to question their position they pressured me about this.

‘My report exposed a catalogue of fabrication and eventually the police accepted my points in full. But they carried on regardless. In conversation with officers, they were adamant Ted Heath was a paedophile’. 

Wiltshire detectives dismissed 35 sex abuse allegations including incredible claims he was part of a murderous satanic sex cult.

The force said there was no ‘corroborative evidence’ to back far-fetched accusations by six people that he was part of a paedophile ring that stabbed youngsters in churches and burnt babies before gorging on blood.

Five people claimed Sir Edward abused and murdered children aboard his Morning Cloud yachts between 1964 and 1986 off Broadstairs, Kent – but police established there was no ‘credible’ evidence, no witnesses and no missing children.

An allegation he was involved in an Army child sex ring was ruled out after two other men were arrested and released because they had ‘no link’ to the former Tory leader.

Yesterday Wiltshire Police published its £1.5million two-year inquiry and revealed just seven out of 42 attacks allegedly carried out between 1956 and 1992 were deemed credible.

Interviews with hundreds of close protections officers, staff at his Salisbury mansion, military, civil servants and former colleagues yielded no information that linked him to child sexual abuse, the report said.

But officers revealed Sir Edward would still have been questioned under caution over an allegation he raped a 11-year-old boy he paid for sex in 1961 and touched children as young as ten while he was an MP, minister and Tory leader.

Controversial Edward Heath report says he would have been interviews by police

Wiltshire Police lavished £1,542,841 on the beleaguered investigation into Sir Ted (pictured just before his death in 2005)

The 100-page ‘summary closure report’ details 42 allegations made against Sir Edward Heath – only seven were deemed credible.

Here are the key numbers: 

42 disclosures, or allegations, were made relating to 40 separate individuals

Allegations covered 14 different UK police force areas

Alleged offences spanned 1956 to 1992

Sir Edward would have faced an interview under caution over seven sex crime claims if he were alive today

10 – the age of the youngest alleged victim in those seven accusations

24 people, including police officers and staff and eight retired detectives, worked on the investigation

1,580 lines of inquiry were generated, 203 of which were not completed as they were deemed irrelevant or disproportionate

284 witness statements were taken and 43 of Sir Edward’s former private secretaries and office staff were interviewed

19 allegations did not meet the threshold for an interview under caution and Three claims were a case of mistaken identity

10 claims were made by third parties and three complainants were anonymous.

Six people named Sir Edward in accusations of satanic or ritual abuse – but police found no corroborative evidence.

£1,484,251 – the total cost of Operation Conifer 

Britain’s former chief prosecutor Lord Macdonald QC said police made appeals to ‘excite fantasists and attention-seekers’ and said: ‘They are covering their backs at the expense of a dead man. Shame on them’.

Chief Constable Mike Veale said it was not a ‘witch hunt’ and stood by his much-criticised use of the word ‘victims’ – but admitted it was a mistake to make an appeal outside the ex-prime minister’s Salisbury mansion in 2015.

The occult abuse claims made by a group of women first emerged in February. They said Sir Edward Heath abused them as children and also accused their parents of being involved in up to 16 murders.

The seemingly far-fetched allegations were made by a family who said that the cult regularly slaughtered children as ritual sacrifices in churches and forests around southern England and also participated in similar ceremonies in Africa.

Some of the other allegations were found to be fantasy when it emerged that two people were found to be lying, one person made abuse claims under three different names and one allegation was made on behalf of the dead. 

The former prime minister’s family, friends and former colleagues said Wiltshire Police’s incendiary report was made to give their two-year probe ‘bogus credibility’ and help Chief Constable Mike Veale avoid ‘getting fired’. 

Wiltshire Police concluded that Sir Edward would have been questioned under caution about seven allegations had he not died in 2005.

But would give no detailed accounts about the incidents, the people involved and why Sir Edward would be required to answer more questions if he were alive. 

Lord McDonald says the word is clear evidence police believed the ‘case against the former prime minister was already proved’ before their expensive inquiry. 

Sir Edward’s godson Lincoln Seligman, 67, says the police actively encouraged fantasists to come forward as it emerged two people ‘intentionally misled’ the police. 

He has also called for a judge-led inquiry to consider the seven remaining allegations to clear the late politician’s name who he says ‘had no interest in children’.

Robert Vaudry was Sir Edward’s private secretary in 1992 when two of the alleged attacks took place but revealed police have never spoken to him’. 

He said: ‘The two (allegations) that happened in my time of working with him – I wasn’t asked specifically about any one of those, and it may be that it could have jolted my memory, I may have been able to say ‘oh no he wasn’t even in the country on those times’, but I wasn’t asked about them, I just find that shocking’. 

Police received 42 claims from 40 people reported to 14 different police forces. The alleged offences between 1956 and 1992 include child sexual abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse of an adult.

A source who worked on the investigation told The Times the files ‘were full of fabrication, falsehood and fantasy’. 

The newspaper also claims that detectives visited the offices of Private Eye to get to the bottom of why they made repeated jokes about Heath’s sexuality in the 1970s.

They also spoke to people who knew him so they could investigate claims he was ‘completely asexual’ – claiming although it is a private matter it was relevant to their investigation.

The report says: ‘Witnesses who were interviewed by investigators from Operation Conifer offered different opinions about Sir Edward Heath’s sexuality. 

‘However two witnesses, who have not disclosed abuse, provided evidence that he was sexually active with consenting adults during parts of his life’. 

The seven abuse claims police believe would have led to Sir Ted being interviewed by detectives

Sir Edward Heath would have been interviewed under caution to hear his account of seven allegations against him, the Operation Conifer report states.

The claims, between 1961 and 1992, relate to a period when Sir Edward was MP for Bexley, MP for Sidcup and MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup.

He was also Lord Privy Seal for two of the allegations, leader of the Conservative Party for one, Father of the House for one and Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development for another.

The allegations are:

Edward Heath pictured in 1963 at a time where police believe the first substantial allegations were made about him 

Allegation 1

Date of offence: 1961

Date reported: April 2015

Location: The Metropolitan Police Service area

Office: MP for Bexley, Lord Privy Seal

Summary: Sir Edward allegedly raped and indecently assaulted a male, aged 11, during a paid sexual encounter in private in a dwelling.

Allegation 2

Date of offence: 1962

Date reported: August 2015

Location: Kent

Office: MP for Bexley, Lord Privy Seal

Summary: Sir Edward, in the company of an unknown adult male, allegedly indecently assaulted a 10-year-old boy during a chance encounter in a public place.

Allegation 3

Date of offence: around 1964

Date reported: June 2016

Location: Sussex and the Metropolitan Police Service area

Office: MP for Bexley, Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development

Summary: Sir Edward allegedly indecently assaulted a 15-year-old boy during three paid sexual encounters.

One of allegations was made in 1976 – a year after Margaret Thatcher kicked him out of office

Allegation 4

Date of offence: 1967

Date reported: August 2015

Location: Guernsey

Office: MP for Bexley, Leader of the Conservative Party (Opposition)

Summary: Sir Edward allegedly indecently assaulted a 15-year-old boy, not known to him, in private during a chance encounter in a public building.

Allegation 5

Date of offence: 1976

Date reported: February 2016

Location: Jersey

Office: MP for Sidcup

Summary: Sir Edward allegedly assaulted, over clothing, an adult male during a chance encounter at a public event.

The last main disclosure came in 1992 – towards the end of his political career

Allegation 6

Date of offence: about 1992

Date reported: January 2016

Location: Wiltshire

Office: MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, Father of the House

Summary: Sir Edward allegedly indecently assaulted an adult male after consent was withdrawn, in what had been a paid consensual sexual encounter in a hotel.

Allegation 7

Date of offence: Between 1990 and 1992

Date reported: August 2015

Location: Wiltshire

Office: MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup

Summary: Sir Edward allegedly indecently assaulted a male, aged between 12 and 14 years, who was not known to him, in private during a chance encounter in private gardens.

The report states that there is ‘undermining evidence’ for allegation seven, though Sir Edward would still have been interviewed about it under caution. 

These are the seven allegations that police say would have required Ted Heath to answer their questions from yesterday’s report

Friends and colleagues say it was ‘impossible’ that ex-PM was a predatory paedophile

Former colleagues of Sir Edward Heath have spoken of their surprise at the child sex allegations levelled at him, saying they believed it would have impossible for him to have committed such acts.

They said that as prime minister, and previously leader of the opposition and a cabinet minister, Sir Edward would have had his own team of close protection police officers accompanying him.

Penny Gummer (pictured), who was Sir Edward’s secretary between 1971 and 1977, said: ‘He had a driver and protection officers, a policeman outside his front door and a housekeeper in his house.

‘The Irish situation meant that he had 24-hour protection and that certainly did not mean that he could summon or dismiss the security officers at whim.

‘Those of us who worked for Mr Heath held him in very high esteem. He maintained old friendships from his university and army days until the end of his life.

‘No-one with a weakness of character of which he is accused would have been able to hold the unfailing respect of his many friends and political colleagues, nor rise to the office of chief whip or prime minister.’

Mark Dowland, who was a member of Sir Edward’s yacht crew during the 1970s, said: ‘My wife and I have been guests of Sir Edward at countless social functions including dinners at Downing Street and Chequers during his time as prime minster and later as an MP.

‘At all times he was accompanied by a chauffeur and police protection.

‘Entry to Arundells entailed being greeted by police officers and walking past numerous CCTV cameras.

‘I cannot believe it would be possible for anyone to have entered Arundells without being filmed or challenged by the police.

‘Whenever we met elsewhere he was delivered and accompanied by a chauffeur and police protection. The protection officer would always be in the same room as we dined or drank.’

Peter Batey, who was Sir Edward’s political private secretary between 1982 and 1986, said: ‘I never knew him to have any sexual relationship of any kind or to show any sexual interest in or attention to anybody.

‘His energies were focused on his passions of politics, music and the arts and ocean racing.

‘When he moved outside his house, he was always accompanied by his special branch protection officers.

‘When he went anywhere by car he was driven by a government driver, with a Special Branch officer in the front passenger seat and usually a private secretary in the back seat.

‘To my knowledge, the Special Branch were with him constantly, except within the Palace of Westminster and on board Morning Cloud.

‘When he went sailing, they put him on to the boat and then met him again as soon as he docked and his crew are vehement that nothing happened on Morning Cloud and, given that it was an ocean racer, they would have known.’

Lord Charles Aldington, whose father was friends with Sir Edward, remembers spending his childhood with him.

‘Ted would of course be deeply wounded by the accusations which the Wiltshire Police have been pursuing, but he would also be surprised and amazed,’ he said.

‘I hope that the Home Secretary will want to insist on an appropriate review of the processes of the Wiltshire Police in this case.’ 

Seven ‘victim disclosures’ would have resulted in Sir Edward Heath being interviewed if he were alive – and many of the key claims appear to have been made by boys or men who claim the MP paid them for sex.

This included claims he raped a boy, 11, while a cabinet member in 1961 and the indecent assault of a boy, 15, on Guernsey when leader of the opposition in 1967.

Two allegations were made during his time as prime minister but dismissed and six more claimed he was involved in satanic or ritual abuse without ‘corroborative evidence’. 

In total 19 claims contained ‘undermining information’, three said they were later admitted mistaken and most damning two people ‘intentionally misled’ police. 

But the report says: ‘No inference of guilt should be drawn by the decision to interview under caution. 

‘The account of Sir Edward Heath would have been as important as other evidence gathered as part of the wider investigation.’ 

The main allegations deemed credible by police are: 

• In 1961 as an MP for Bexley he allegedly raped an 11 year old rent boy in a paid sexual encounter at a private address in London;
• In 1962 he allegedly indecently assaulted a 10 year old boy in a chance encounter in a public place while Heath was in the company of an unknown man in Kent;
• Around 1964 he is accused of indecently assaulting a 15 year old rent boy during three paid sex sessions in Sussex and London;
• In 1967 he allegedly indecently assaulted a boy of 15 who was not known to him during a chance encounter at a public building in Guernsey. He was leader of the Tory party at this time in opposition.
• In 1976 he allegedly indecently assaulted an adult male at a public event in Jersey. He apparently touched him over his clothing;
• Around 1992 he is said to have indecently assaulted an adult man after ‘consent was withdrawn’ during a paid for sexual encounter in a hotel in Wiltshire;
• Between 1990 and 1992 Heath is accused of indecently assaulting a boy aged between 12 and 14 who was not known to him during a chance encounter at a private party in Wiltshire;

Sir Edward Heath would have been interviewed under caution to hear his account of seven allegations against him, the Operation Conifer report states.

In a statement following the report’s release, Wiltshire Chief Constable Mike Veale said officers have ‘gone where the evidence has taken us’, whether it supported the allegations or not.

He said: ‘The report does not draw any conclusions as to the likely guilt or innocence of Sir Edward Heath.

‘I am satisfied there are compelling and obvious reasons to investigate allegations made against Sir Edward Heath.’

He added that it would be an ‘indefensible dereliction’ of his duties not to investigate those allegations. 

The claims, between 1961 and 1992, relate to a period when Sir Edward was MP for Bexley, MP for Sidcup and MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup.

He was also Lord Privy Seal for two of the allegations, leader of the Conservative Party for one, Father of the House for one and Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development for another. 

The report concluded: ‘The Senior Investigating Officer concluded that there is sufficient suspicion to have interviewed Sir Edward Heath under criminal caution regarding his suspected involvement in child sexual abuse.

‘This conclusion relates to seven of the 42 disclosures that were considered by the Operation Conifer investigation.’ 

Two of the alleged offences covered the period when Sir Edward was prime minister, although none of those met the formal interview threshold. 

The report stressed that ‘no inference of guilt’ should be made from the fact he would have faced questioning.

Wiltshire Chief Constable Mike Veale said officers have ‘gone where the evidence has taken us’ while Assistant Chief Constable Paul Mills said it would be ‘inappropriate to speculate’ Sir Edward Heath’s responses to allegations against him (both pictured yesterday)

A further £556 was spent on books about the former Conservative MP, although officers failed to interview many of those who worked with Sir Edward and knew him best

A national police investigation into child abuse allegations against Sir Edward Heath launched after claims by brothel keeper ‘Madame Lyng-Lyng’ who said she could prove he was a paedophile

The Wiltshire Police investigation, called Operation Conifer, concluded that seven of the claims would have been sufficiently credible to justify questioning Sir Edward, who was prime minister between 1970 and 1974, under caution.

Top QC slams police over ‘disgraceful’ treatment of Sir Ted to ‘cover their own backs’

Lord Macdonald QC, the former director of public prosecutions, who has lambasted senior police

The country’s former top prosecutor has lambasted senior police officers for their handling of the investigation into Sir Edward Heath – accusing them of ‘covering their backs’ at the expense of a man who can no longer defend himself.

Lord Macdonald QC said Wiltshire Police’s announcement that Operation Conifer had uncovered sufficient evidence to justify questioning Sir Edward under caution ‘gives entirely bogus credibility’ to the controversial two-year inquiry.

The peer, the former director of public prosecutions, also accused the force of attempting to demonstrate its ‘victim-friendly credentials at the expense of basic fairness’.

‘For Wiltshire Police to have commenced an inquiry by holding a televised press conference outside Ted Heath’s home inviting ‘victims’ to come forward was a disgrace,’ Lord Macdonald told the Press Association.

‘Firstly, because by referring to ‘victims’ in this way they were suggesting that the case against the former prime minister was already proved, and secondly because it is very well known that appeals of this sort always excite fantasists and attention-seekers.

‘Why should fantasists have come forward in this case? Well, everyone knows that, during his lifetime, and as a single man, Sir Edward was the subject of sexual innuendo and gossip.

‘This was, at the time, puerile and in poor taste, hardly reflecting well on those who encouraged it.

‘But it has also made him an obvious target for lurid and trashy comment in death – and you can find this adolescence readily on the internet.

‘The police knew all this, but it was more important to them to demonstrate that they had learned from past failures to investigate sex crime properly.

‘So, they went completely over the top in the opposite direction; hence the press conference from which everything else has flowed.

‘They preferred to prove their new victim-friendly credentials at the expense of basic fairness.’

Lord Macdonald, who is now warden of Oxford University’s Wadham College, added: ‘It is no surprise at all that Wiltshire Police should have concluded that they would have interviewed Sir Edward had he been alive.

‘This gives entirely bogus credibility to their investigation without meaning anything in forensic terms.

‘The bar for interview is low, in most investigations as low as the police want it to be – and in the case of a dead man, virtually non-existent.

‘They are covering their backs at the expense of a dead man. Shame on them.’

The report does not address the question of Sir Edward’s guilt or innocence because the remit of the two-year £1.5 million inquiry was to see whether there was enough evidence to interview the former MP for Bexley, who died at home in Salisbury in July 2005, aged 89.

He would have been interviewed over seven allegations of child sexual abuse had he been alive. 

But they also found that some may have made up their claims, evidence given by others was inconsistent and one allegation was even made by the family of a dead man. 

The former Prime Minister’s godson Lincoln Seligman, 67, believes the report will contain nothing but ‘innuendo’ that will forever tarnish his godfather’s legacy.

He said: ‘My godfather had no interest in children’.

And he also slammed police decision to asked people to come forward with any allegations while already referring to them as ‘victims’.

He said: ‘If you are making a mass appeal for victims you will get some – even if they aren’t victims at all’. 

Commenting on claims police would have interviewed him if he was still alive Mr Seligman said: ‘There is a very low bar (of evidence) required to be called in for a police interview – and if you are dead that’s no at all

‘All claims of sexual abuse should be properly investigated. But in this case they haven’t properly investigated at all’. 

Wiltshire Police were accused of a ‘colossal waste of money’ last night. 

The two-year investigation has ended with no one facing charges and seemingly no concrete proof of any assaults.

The force has lavished £1,542,841 on the beleaguered investigation, according to the latest available figures, released after a freedom of information request.

This includes more than £14,291 on public relations to defend the reputation of Chief Constable Mike Veale and his team, who have faced sustained criticism for their handling of the investigation.

Over the past two years, detectives spent more than £34,542 on flights, car hire and public transport around Britain and the Channel Islands to investigate the child abuse claims, many of which have been found to be fantasy. 

The force also had to pay £1,029 for vehicle repairs after crashing one of the hire cars they spent more than £22,000 renting during the inquiry, known as Operation Conifer.

The 24-strong investigative team racked up hotel bills totalling £32,757, plus £5,841 claimed back for meals and refreshments.

A further £556 was spent on books about the former Conservative MP, although officers failed to interview many of those who worked with Sir Edward and knew him best.

More than £914,000 went on salaries for retired detectives and staff working on the investigation, recruited after the force paid £4,819 for advertising.

The final bill for the inquiry is likely to be even higher but the costs were still being counted last night before the publication of a summary of the findings.

Allegation: Ted Heath was accused of raping a 12-year-old boy who said he worked out his identity after seeing a picture of him with Margaret Thatcher (right) and Dame Pat Hornsby Smith (left). This may be the picture he described

Claim: Police were also accused of covering up child sex allegations against the former Tory leader before his death (pictured alongside paedophile Jimmy Savile)

Home Secretary Amber Rudd has agreed to provide £1.1million in funding after a plea for financial support from Mr Veale to cover the costs of the inquiry.

Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor – who was himself hounded over false child abuse allegations by a fantasist known as ‘Nick’, who also made claims against Sir Edward – said: ‘I find it astonishing that this amount of money was spent on PR to protect the reputation of Mike Veale.’

Describing the investigation as ‘a carefully crafted witch hunt’, he added: ‘Operation Conifer could not and has not proved anything. It has been a £1.5million investigation into the sexuality or asexuality of a former prime minister.’

Dr Richard Hoskins, a criminologist called in by Wiltshire Police to review part of the inquiry, condemned the force’s spending, saying he was convinced there was not a shred of credible evidence against the late former Tory leader.

He said: ‘These items of expenditure show a total disregard for ordinary Britons who have paid their hard-earned taxes for this police gravy train.

‘It was obvious to anyone with half a brain that most of the so-called evidence against Heath didn’t stack up. The whole thing is a colossal waste of taxpayers’ money. There is no transparency, no sense of accountability.’

How brothel owner threatened to ‘expose’ ex-PM as a paedophile ten years after his death and sparked £1.5m police inquiry

Myra Ling-Ling Forde, 67, sparked the initial Ted Heath investigation by threatening to expose him as a paedophile

August 3 2015:

It emerges that an alleged cover-up of child sex allegations against Sir Edward Heath is at the centre of a police corruption probe. Watchdogs are examining claims that a prosecution against an individual was shelved after a threat was made to ‘expose’ the former prime minister. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) inquiry was sparked by allegations made by a retired senior officer.

Superintendent Sean Memory, of Wiltshire Police, makes a television appeal outside Sir Edward’s former home, Arundells in Salisbury, to urge potential victims to come forward.

August 4:

The Daily Mirror newspaper publishes claims by a man that he was raped aged 12 by Sir Edward in 1961.

Reports emerge that Sir Edward is being looked at as part of Operation Midland, a Scotland Yard inquiry into claims a VIP paedophile ring operated in the 1970s and 1980s.

August 5:

The nationwide independent inquiry into historic child sex abuse says it will consider allegations against Sir Edward, ‘should the facts justify it’.

Myra Ling-Ling Forde, a former brothel keeper at the centre of claims against Sir Edward, denies threatening to expose him, saying she had ‘no knowledge of any misconduct on his part’.

August 11:

Wiltshire Police says it will oversee investigations into allegations against Sir Edward, as the force faces a corruption probe. Operation Conifer is set up to coordinate at least seven forces carrying out inquiries linked to the late politician.

August 12:

Ms Forde claims she arranged male escorts for Sir Edward but insisted he was not a paedophile, calling him a ‘shy gay man’.

August 14:

Lord Armstrong of Ilminster, who was Sir Edward’s principal private secretary during his time as Prime Minister, said he was ‘completely asexual’ and the child sex abuse allegations were ‘totally uncharacteristic and unlikely’.

August 25:

Former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor says he is the victim of a ‘homosexual witch hunt’ at an extraordinary press conference in which he laid out graphic details of claims made against him in Operation Midland and revealed Sir Edward and ex-Home Secretary Leon Brittan had been named among his ‘alleged co-conspirators’.

May 12 2016:

Wiltshire Chief Constable Mike Veale defends his force’s handling of Operation Conifer

The IPCC reveals there is no evidence a prosecution against brothel keeper Ms Forde was dropped because of threats to allege Sir Edward had been involved in sexual offences.

November 14:

Two people are arrested as part of an investigation into allegations of child abuse made against former the Prime Minister.

November 27:

Whistleblower Dr Rachel Hoskins, who was enlisted by police to examine the evidence in Operation Conifer, told the Mail on Sunday she had uncovered a ‘catalogue of fabrication’ at the heart of a probe.

December 2:

Wiltshire Chief Constable Mike Veale defends his force’s handling of Operation Conifer.

January 2017:

Superintendent Sean Memory, the officer in charge of Operation Conifer, is signed off from work on long-term sick leave.

April 13:

The two people arrested as part of the investigation against Sir Edward are released without charge.

August 20:

It is revealed Wiltshire Police will pass the findings of its investigation to the national child sex abuse inquiry.

October 2:

Sir Edward’s godson Lincoln Seligman calls for an official inquiry into police handling of child sex abuse allegations against the former Prime Minister. He says he believes there were serious flaws in Operation Conifer.

October 5:

Wiltshire Police publish the 100-page Operation Conifer ‘summary closure report’. The investigation concluded that seven of the 42 claims would have been ‘sufficiently credible’ to justify questioning Sir Edward, who was Prime Minister between 1970 and 1974, under caution.

Friends of the late Prime Minister, Lord Hunt of Wirral, chairman of the Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation, and Lord Armstrong of Ilminster, former Cabinet Secretary, said in a statement: ‘The Wiltshire Police report is profoundly unsatisfactory because it neither justifies nor dispels the cloud of suspicion.’