Vulnerable girls repeatedly abused by Jimmy Savile

PAEDOPHILE television presenter Jimmy Savile abused at least 22 pupils and one visitor at a school for emotionally disturbed teenage girls where he was allowed to stay overnight and even molested his victims in the principal’s office, according to a police report.

Savile was given unrestricted and largely unsupervised access to Duncroft School. Picture: TSPL

Surrey Police has concluded its investigations into the activities of Savile, who was given “unrestricted and largely unsupervised” access to Duncroft School in Staines-Upon-Thames, Surrey, which he visited at least 16 times between 1974 and 1979 and where he stayed overnight on at least two occasions.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced in December last year that no charges would be made against former staff members following the police investigation to find if anyone was complicit in the abuse.

Surrey Police launched Operation Outreach after receiving reports of sexual abuse committed by Savile at Duncroft following the ITV Exposure programme.

The aim of the probe was to determine the extent of his activities and see if he was aided by anyone at the school.

The report says Savile first visited Duncroft on 21 January 1974, and stopped when it temporarily closed in 1979, during which time he visited at least 16 times, although evidence from victims and witnesses suggest he attended more frequently.

Although written records show he stayed overnight twice, the report received accounts saying he stayed more frequently, using his own camper van or staff quarters

The report says: “Jimmy Savile is recorded in log books to have taken pupils out, with a strong indication that they were unaccompanied by staff, on three occasions.

“It is evident that Jimmy Savile was given significant access to the grounds and buildings, and it appears that this access was unrestricted and largely unsupervised.”

Duncroft was originally run by the National Association for Mental Health, later called MIND, before its management was transferred to Barnardo’s in 1975. A total of 166 pupils were identified as having attended the school between 1974 and 1979, of whom 54 have had contact with Surrey Police as part of the investigation.

Of the 46 offences established by Surrey Police, 25 occurred in the grounds of Duncroft, six in Norman Lodge and 15 off-site but within Surrey.

Of the 23 victims, ten were abused on a single occasion by Savile and 13 were abused at least twice. Five victims were abused seven times and one was abused three times.

Assistant chief constable Stuart Cundy of Surrey police said: “I thank all those who came forward during the course of the Outreach investigation as it is only with their support that a large number of other offences by Savile at Duncroft have been uncovered.”