Seven women accuse David Sullivan of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour

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Seven ladies have made allegations of sexual exploitative and predatory behaviour towards West Ham co-owner David Sullivan.

The claims have been made in a joint investigation by BBC’s Panorama and The Instances, and relate to historic allegations courting again to the Nineteen Eighties and Nineteen Nineties. Earlier than they had been revealed, Mr Sullivan, the previous West Ham Soccer Membership co-chairman, denied all allegations, calling them “factually incorrect and fully false”.

The claims had been made by ladies who had been younger fashions looking for work at Mr Sullivan’s Day by day Sport and Sunday Sport newspapers. They embody one who claimed Mr Sullivan requested her for intercourse, promising to make her one among “my common women” within the newspaper. The account has been known as “implausible” by Mr Sullivan’s attorneys.

One other lady claimed she was scouted on the road by a feminine agent who then directed her to Mr Sullivan and advised her to “simply go in there and simply do what he says”. Different ladies claimed Mr Sullivan tried to strain them in change for work at his newspapers.

On Monday night, the Met Police mentioned it was investigating a report referring to the “alleged taking of indecent photographs and sexual exploitation at places in London and Essex within the Nineteen Eighties”. The pressure mentioned this investigation associated to at least one alleged sufferer.

On Saturday, Mr Sullivan confirmed he’ll step down as chairman of West Ham with quick impact to struggle “false allegations” about his non-public life after 16 years on the helm.

“I’ve not too long ago develop into conscious that factually incorrect and fully false, decades-old allegations regarding my private life are as a result of be broadcast and revealed,” he mentioned in a press release. “The false allegations levelled towards me have been sensationalised by the media. After a lifetime spent constructing companies within the grownup business wherein I’ve met hundreds of girls, it’s sadly inevitable {that a} small variety of improper conduct claims are being made towards me. I categorically deny these claims.

“I’m a personal man, and people who personally and professionally know the true David Sullivan, not the caricature invented by the tabloids, know precisely who I’m and what I stand for. I’m completely not the particular person the media has determined to color me as.

“I’ve not been supplied with any correct clarification as to how these people or their claims had been independently verified or assessed for credibility previous to publication. I imagine that all the course of has been essentially unfair and fully missing in any due impartiality. I can be suing the BBC for libel, together with some other media outlet that repeats any libelous allegations.

“None of those allegations relate to my greater than 30 years in soccer. West Ham United has been one of many best passions and privileges of my life. I care deeply in regards to the membership, its supporters, its gamers, its employees and its future. At what’s already a difficult and necessary time for the membership, I refuse to permit private issues regarding me to develop into an pointless distraction or a supply of instability.

“Due to this fact, after very cautious consideration and with a heavy coronary heart, I’ve determined to resign as joint-chair and director of West Ham United FC with quick impact. This has been an extremely painful resolution to make, however it’s one made out of affection, respect and duty towards a soccer membership and a fan base that deserve absolute unity and focus shifting ahead.

“I’m stepping down to use my full power and a focus on combating these false allegations. I’ve formally engaged my authorized workforce and we’re getting ready to problem authorized proceedings in respect of each false grievance that has been made towards me. I can be looking for full redress, legally and publicly, on each single entrance.”

The BBC mentioned the findings had been a results of “a joint investigation by Panorama and The Instances newspaper into the behaviour of David Sullivan, who has introduced he’s stepping down as co-chair and director of West Ham United Soccer Membership. Over a long time, he has made hundreds of thousands from pornography, newspapers and soccer”.

Mr Sullivan first took over West Ham together with his enterprise associate David Gold in January 2010. His tenure oversaw the unpopular transfer from Upton Park to the previous Olympic Stadium in 2016, the main focus of quite a few anti-board protests amongst membership supporters. Mr Sullivan’s web price was estimated to be round £1.2billion in 2024, in keeping with The Instances Wealthy Listing.

On its investigation, A Met spokesperson mentioned: “We take all allegations of offences towards ladies and women extraordinarily severely, irrespective of the size of time that has handed. As with all instances, any data or proof supplied to police can be assessed and the suitable enquiries carried out.”

Mr Sullivan’s representatives declined to remark additional on Monday night time. West Ham United had been additionally approached.