Tom Watson urged police to probe VIP paedophile claims by woman

Tom Watson is facing fresh embarrassment after police confirmed that they are investigating a woman over allegations that she lied about being a victim of VIP child sex abuse.

Last month the Labour deputy leader faced calls to quit over his dealings with the fantasist known as ‘Nick’, whom he met in his Westminster office months before he made his outlandish claims to Scotland Yard in late 2014.

After ‘Nick’, real name Carl Beech, was convicted of perverting the course of justice and fraud, the MP was accused of fuelling a ‘moral panic’ and a climate of Establishment hysteria over child sex abuse. 

Beech was jailed for 18 years for making false allegations of abuse and murder involving public figures.

Now it has emerged that detectives are investigating whether Esther Baker, 36, misled police who originally investigated her own story of organised abuse involving politicians.

Four years ago, she won the crucial backing of Mr Watson over her hotly-contested allegations. 

It has emerged that detectives are investigating whether Esther Baker, 36, misled police who originally investigated her own story of organised abuse involving politicians. Four years ago, she won the crucial backing of Mr Watson over her hotly-contested allegations

He said in May 2015: ‘Esther has made very serious allegations. They concern a politician who is in the public eye today and is therefore different to allegations from previous eras. I hope the police will resource a comprehensive investigation.’

Former Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming, one of those she accused, called for her to be investigated for perverting the course of justice after he was cleared of her claims.

Staffordshire Police, which spent more than a year investigating Miss Baker’s unsubstantiated allegations in 2015 and 2016, said its current inquiry was ongoing. 

In a statement, it said: ‘Following a complaint made to officers, the matter is being investigated and the file is with Staffordshire Police’s head of crime for review and consideration of next steps.’

The complaint was made by Mr Hemming, who was interviewed under caution by officers in 2015. 

In 2017 the Crown Prosecution Service dropped its case as it failed to meet the required level of evidence. 

In 2015, Miss Baker waived her legal right to anonymity during media interviews. Her case was mentioned in the Commons.

She claimed she was taken with other children to woodland in Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, to be raped, and alleged uniformed police officers were sometimes present.

Former Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming, one of those she accused, called for her to be investigated for perverting the course of justice after he was cleared of her claims

This week Miss Baker remained defiant, saying the ‘next steps’ mentioned by Staffordshire Police ‘have apparently not yet got to the stage of even interviewing me about [perverting the course of justice] after four years of [Mr Hemming] alleging it’.

She said officers ‘have had full access to all of my computers, devices and anything they want – plus 150-ish hours of interviews’. 

Miss Baker said: ‘If there was something to find I’m sure they’d have found it by now.’

Last night Mr Watson declined to say whether he ever met Miss Baker, and if so on how many occasions and in what circumstances. 

Nor would he comment on whether she had provided him with any evidence to support her claims.

His spokesman said: ‘When allegations of historic child sexual abuse are made it is only right that they are investigated by the police.

‘After Tom Watson spoke out about child abuse many people contacted him with allegations. He was always clear it was not his role to judge whether allegations were true, that was for the police.’