Met police open sex offences investigation into David Walliams after media allegations

In brief

• London's Metropolitan Police have opened a sexual offences investigation into David Walliams after ITV News and The Guardian reported allegations from several women.
• The reporting alleges Walliams used his fame to pursue young women and girls over more than two decades; Walliams denies the claims.
• Publishers have pulled or halted his books, and calls have grown for a staggered age of consent for 16- and 17-year-olds.

Police probe opened

The Metropolitan Police said on Friday they had received several complaints about non-recent serious sexual offences linked to a man now in his 50s, and that these complaints underpin the inquiry into Walliams. Detectives said they were examining allegations that differ from those reported by the media, but would also review the published reporting as part of the probe (Britského komika Davida Walliamsa vyšetruje polícia pre závažné sexuálne zločiny – HNonline.sk).

What the reporting alleges

ITV News and The Guardian reported on Tuesday that several women accused Walliams of using his fame and position to pursue young women and girls over more than two decades (Dochodzenie w sprawie brytyjskiego gwiazdora Davida Walliamsa. Zarzuty dotyczą przestępstw seksualnych – TVN24). One woman said he sexually assaulted her at his London home when she was 15. Others described being manipulated into sex while they were teenagers. The outlets combined their findings into an hour-long documentary titled "David Walliams: Power and Silence".

Walliams's response

Walliams denies the allegations made by multiple women (Walliams allegations prompt calls for staggered age of consent at 16 and 17 – The Guardian). Earlier this month he lost a High Court bid to block publication of the claims.

Publishers and retailers react

HarperCollins has not published new Walliams titles since last December, and in September it removed his entire backlist from sale (Families clear homes of David Walliams books after sexual offence allegations – The Guardian). German publisher Fischer Sauerländer said on Friday it had halted distribution of his books. Some independent UK bookshops said they had already stopped stocking his titles, and some parents have begun removing his books from home shelves.

Calls for legal change

The allegations have prompted calls to introduce a staggered age of consent for 16- and 17-year-olds, so the law reflects age gaps between partners.

Police appeal

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Cagney urged anyone who was a victim of a sexual offence to come forward to police, regardless of when it happened.