Victim: “Jimmy Savile abused me at Haut de la Garenne”

Friday 16 January 2015

A witness has described his abuse at the hands of Jimmy Savile at Haut de la Garenne in 1976 – and has said he told police about it in 2008, three years before Savile died.

The witness – named in papers with the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry as “Witness 125” to protect his identity – told police about the abuse in both 2008 and 2009 as part of their investigation into child abuse at the care home.

A statement from the inquiry describing the evidence heard yesterday covered the evidence of “Witness 125” and also referred to allegations of physical and sexual assault by staff running the home.

Their statement said: “Witness 125 said Savile was taking part in 'Liberation Walk' on the island in 1976. He then came back to Haut de la Garenne to have his photo taken with a group of children, including 125. 125 said Savile sexually assaulted him beforehand.

“The Inquiry heard that in 2008, the Sun newspaper had linked Savile to Haut de la Garenne but the presenter had denied he was there and started legal action. However evidence already before the Inquiry has corroborated 125's account that Savile was at the home.”

In 2012, the year after Savile died, and when allegations about his sexual abuse of young and vulnerable victims were being widely made, the former head of the abuse inquiry Lenny Harper said that they didn’t have enough evidence to go after Savile, telling the national press: “There definitely wasn't enough even to question him at the time, but in light of all the evidence that has come out then I'm not surprised because it fits perfectly the profile of what was going on.”

Earlier this week, when hearings at the inquiry resumed after the Christmas break, lawyers for the inquiry said that in the coming weeks and months the panel would hear from around 50 witnesses who were abused at Haut de la Garenne between 1970 and 1986 by 21 alleged abusers.