UK police probe allegations against author Walliams

Résumé détaillé

A series of "serious" sex offence allegations against TV personality and children's author David Walliams are being probed by UK police.

UK police say they have opened an investigation into allegations against comedian and best-selling children's author David Walliams after two media organisations published accusations of sexual misconduct about him.

The Guardian and ITV News on Tuesday reported that multiple women had accused Walliams, 55, formerly a judge on music mogul Simon Cowell's Britain's Got Talent television show, of abusing his position to prey on young women.

Walliams, who has sold more than 60 million books, has denied the allegations and had sought to block publication of the accusations, saying he would again attempt to take his own life if they were made public.

London police said in a statement that they had received a number of allegations of "non-recent serious sexual offences" involving a man now in his 50s.

They said that these were separate from those reported by ITN - the broadcaster that produces ITV News - and the Guardian.

Walliams' lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The police statement said detectives were also looking at the Guardian and ITV material to see whether it included any evidence of offences.

"We would encourage anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to come forward and speak to us, no matter when it happened," said Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney, who is leading the investigation.

In its report, the Guardian said Walliams had written a personal letter to the investigating journalists, denying abusing his position of power.

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