Detectives investigating Sir Edward Heath dismissed 35 sex abuse allegations including incredible claims he was part of a murderous satanic sex cult.
Wiltshire Police 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.
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.
The embattled chief constable of Wiltshire Police, Mike Veale, is facing a growing backlash from friends, supporters and MPs, who said the reputation of the late Conservative leader had been tarnished by the ‘profoundly unsatisfactory’ inquiry.
Sir Edward Heath has been accused of raping a 11-year-old boy and touching children as young as ten even when he was Tory leader, an incendiary police report said today
Army paedophile rings, satanic cults and yacht murders: The 35 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.
Today 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.’
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.
How brothel owner threatened to ‘expose’ ex-PM as a paedophile and sparked £1.5m police inquiry
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.
Myra Ling-Ling Forde, 67, sparked the initial Ted Heath investigation by threatening to expose him as a paedophile
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.’