News Focus
- Seven women accuse billionaire David Sullivan of sexual misconduct and abusing his power over four decades
- The alleged victims were young models seeking work at his newspapers, the Daily and Sunday Sport
- Sullivan resigned as West Ham United joint chairman hours before the investigation was published
- The 77-year-old denies all claims but previously admitted paying for sex with a 16 or 17-year-old in the 1990s, which was legal at that time
- Eight women have reported allegations to the Metropolitan Police or Essex Police, though no charges have been filed
David Sullivan, the billionaire who co-owns West Ham United, has left his job as joint chairman of the Premier League club. He quit just hours before journalists published a major investigation about him.
BBC Panorama and The Times worked together on the report. They found seven women who say Sullivan behaved badly towards them. The women claim this happened over many years, starting in the 1980s.
At the time, the women were teenagers or in their early twenties. They wanted to become glamour models and needed work at Sullivan’s newspapers, the Daily and Sunday Sport. They say Sullivan used his power to pressure them for sex. They claim he offered to help their careers if they agreed.
One woman, called Florence (this is not her real name), says Sullivan forced her to have sex in 1999. She was 20 years old then. She says Sullivan told her she would get regular modelling work if she slept with him. She tried to say no, but she says he took her to a bedroom anyway. She felt she could not stop him because he had so much power.
Lawyers for Sullivan say Florence’s story is not believable. They point to the design of his house.
Two other women told reporters they felt they had to sleep with Sullivan to save their careers. Another woman says Sullivan locked the door during a meeting. She says he only opened it after she started shouting.
Sullivan says none of the claims are true. He calls them false and incorrect facts. He left his job at West Ham to fight the allegations. He says the investigation is unfair.
The report also shows that Sullivan once admitted paying for sex in the 1990s. He says he thought the girl was 16 or 17 years old. Sullivan was in his forties then. The law changed in 2003. After that, it became illegal to pay for sex with someone aged 16 or 17.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Sullivan controlled which models appeared in his newspapers. People who knew him then reportedly gave him a rude nickname. They called him “No job/blow job” because he allegedly asked models for oral sex to give them work.
Eight women have told the Metropolitan Police or Essex Police about Sullivan’s behaviour. Police have never charged him with any crime.
This case creates hard questions for football bosses in England. People are asking what they knew about Sullivan before he took control of West Ham.
Tony Livesey works for BBC Radio 5 Live now. Years ago, he was an editor at the Sport newspaper. Florence says Livesey introduced her to Sullivan. Livesey says he cannot remember this. He denies that he played any part in the situation.