in The Guardian
Ex-Tory MP Harvey Proctor hits out at child sex abuse investigation
May 3, 2015
Harvey Proctor's home was raided by police investigating a VIP paedophile ring that is alleged to have existed at Westminster during the 1970s and 1980s. Photograph: guardian.co.uk
A former Conservative MP whose home was raided earlier this year by officers investigating historical allegations of child sex abuse has launched a scathing attack on police, challenging them to “put up or shut up".
Harvey Proctor said he felt "disbelief and disgust" at what he described as “the growing paranoia among various police 'organisations"' in relation to such investigations.
Writing in the Independent on Sunday, the 68-year-old reiterated his innocence in relation to claims over which he said he has still not been interviewed.
Proctor, who represented Basildon in Essex from 1979 to 1983 and Billericay from 1983 to 1987, said: "It's time - with the spending on these inquiries approaching £100m - to say to the police and the Director of Public Prosecutions: Put up or shut up. Arrest me; charge me; try me. If you have evidence against me, bring it on!"
In a blunt and direct address to the Metropolitan police commissioner and other chief police officers he said "get a grip", claiming they should redirect their scarce resources into tackling current crime and law and order.
Proctor's home within the grounds of Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire was searched by officers from Operation Midland in March.
Just weeks later he announced he was retiring as private secretary to the Duke of Rutland.
Operation Midland was launched by the Met last November following allegations that boys were sexually abused by a VIP paedophile ring alleged to have existed at Westminster during the 1970s and 1980s.
There were claims that sex parties involving boys below the age of consent were held at the exclusive Dolphin Square apartment block near the Houses of Parliament.
Proctor, who left parliament in 1987 after pleading guilty to acts of gross indecency, has previously said he knew nothing about the paedophile ring or allegations that three boys linked to the abuse were murdered.
In bullet-point form in the Independent he reiterated that lack of knowledge or involvement.
He said the search of his home and the allegations that hang over him have "ruined 28 years of my life's rehabilitation after 1987".
He said the media, police and politicians were pursuing the issue of historic child sex abuse "to try to get on the good side of the people of this country and rehabilitate themselves from their past lapses".
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This article appeared
at BBC
Man guilty of raping one-day-old baby boy
Stuart Young will be sentenced at the High Court next month
30 April 2015
Stuart Young will be sentenced at the High Court next month
A man has been convicted of raping a one-day-old baby boy and two other young children.
Stuart Young preyed on the children between November 2008 and December 2013 at various locations in Edinburgh.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard the attacks on the one-day-old boy continued until he was aged three months.
A jury convicted Young on two charges of rape and another of sexual assault. Sentence was deferred.
The week-long trial heard how, in November 2008, Young raped a girl who was aged just six months.
He continued to sexually assault her until December 2013 when she was aged five.
Prison sentence
In July 2013, he abused a nine-year-old girl at an address in the capital's Stenhouse area.
Following conviction, temporary judge Paul Arthurson QC deferred sentence for the court to obtain reports about Young's character.
The judge warned Young, who lived in Sighthill, Edinburgh, to expect a lengthy prison sentence.
Judge Arthurson said: "You have been convicted of some truly depraved and despicable crimes.
"You should expect a sentence to reflect your level of criminality."
Young, who has previous convictions for non-analogous offences, had entered not guilty pleas and denied any wrongdoing.
The details of the case were so traumatic that jurors have been excused from serving on another jury for five years.
Defence solicitor advocate Ian Paterson told the court that his client realised that he was going to be sent to prison.
He said: "Mr Young expects that a substantial period of imprisonment will be imposed upon him." Specialist support
Sheriff Arthurson deferred sentence and Young swore as he left the dock with two security officers who were taking him to the court room cells.
Young was also placed on the sex offenders register. He will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on 28 May.
Det Insp Douglas Moran, of Police Scotland, said specialist support was being given to Young's victims and their families.
He said: "Thanks to the bravery of these two little girls in speaking up about the horrific abuse Young inflicted upon them, their physical ordeal is over and their tormentor is now facing a considerable prison sentence. The baby boy was given a voice so he too could be spared further suffering.
"However they, and their families, have had to live through Young's catalogue of offending again since he refused to accept responsibility for his actions and subjected them to a trial.
"Specialist support continues to be provided to the children and their families, and I hope they take comfort that he is now behind bars."
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Further reading:
How 'vile' paedophile ring targeted victims
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