Police probe possible links between Heath, Savile and Jaconelli

North Yorkshire Police has confirmed it is checking its records for any intelligence relating to former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath \- after pictures emerged of him with suspected paedophile \- and former Mayor of Scarborough \- Peter Jaconelli.

Last year the force announced that had Mr Jaconelli still been alive - files about him and his friend Jimmy Savile would have been submitted to the CPS to consider criminal charges.

Michael Billington reports:

North Yorkshire Police is checking its records for any mention of Sir Edward Heath after a photograph emerged of him meeting Peter Jaconelli, a suspected paedophile and friend of Jimmy Savile.

The photo from the 1970s shows Sir Edward shaking hands with Jaconelli, who died in 1999. The pair are taking part in a civic engagement and are surrounded by crowds.

North Yorkshire Police is investigating any possible link between former Prime Minister Ted Heath, and suspected paedophiles Jimmy Savile and his friend Peter Jaconelli.

Jaconelli, the former mayor of Scarborough, died in 1999, but last year North Yorkshire Police said following an investigation 35 people had come forward with reports of historic sexual abuse by Jaconelli and Savile.

Officers in North Yorkshire say they are not not currently investigating any complaints linked to Edward Heath. but they are carrying out a 'comprehensive search' of their systems to see if there are any credible links between the trio.

Jaconelli was well-known in the town as the owner of an ice cream parlour, the mayor and a councillor for both Scarborough Council and North Yorkshire County Council.

The leader of North Yorkshire County Council, Councillor Carl Les has now issued a statement speaking of his regret "if there is evidence to show that he was not a fit and proper person to be a county councillor."

Last year, the force apologised to victims of Savile and Jaconelli after concluding that officers missed opportunities to properly investigate the two men over alleged child abuse when they were still alive.

The force said 35 people had come forward with allegations about the pair.

A spokesman said 32 cases related to Jaconelli, between 1958 and 1998, and included allegations of indecent assault, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, gross indecency and rape.

In the case of Savile, there were five reported offences, from 1979 to 1988, which ranged from sexual assault to rape. Two people claimed to be victims of both men.

The spokesman said at the time: "Sufficient evidence has been uncovered to suggest that, had they been alive today, files would have been submitted for consideration by the Crown Prosecution Service regarding potential criminal charges against Peter Jaconelli and Jimmy Savile, relating to young people."