Ted Heath 'would have been interviewed under caution' about Guernsey and Jersey allegations

  • Channel
Sir Edward would be questioned over allegations that he raped and indecently assaulted boys as young as 10 were he alive today. Credit: PA/PA Wire/PA Images

Former UK Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath would have been interviewed about two allegations against him relating to the Channel Islands, according to a report published today.

The report states allegations he indecently assaulted a 15-year-old boy in Guernsey in 1967, while he was MP for Bexley, and then assaulted an adult male during a chance encounter at a public event in Jersey in 1976, while he was MP for Sidcup.

The report details the results of Operation Conifer, an investigation led by Wiltshire Police on behalf of the National Police Service launched in 2015 when Sir Edward was named as a suspect.

Wiltshire Police said two of the 42 claims against him relate to the Channel Islands and meet criteria for further investigation.

The seven allegations stated in the Operation Conifer report are:

  • 1961, Metropolitan Police Service Area: allegedly raping and indecently assaulting an 11-year-old boy during a paid sexual encounter in private in a dwelling.

  • 1962, Kent: allegedly indecently assaulting a 10-year-old boy during a chance encounter in a public place.

  • 1964, Sussex and the Metropolitan Police Service Area: allegedly indecently assaulting a 15-year-old boy during three paid sexual encounters.

  • 1967, Guernsey: allegedly indecently assaulting a 15-year-old boy, not known to him, in private during a chance encounter in a public building.

  • 1976, Jersey: allegedly assaulting, over clothing, an adult male during a chance encounter at a public event.

  • 1992, Wiltshire: allegedly indecently assaulting an adult male after consent was withdrawn, in what had been a paid consensual sexual encounter in a hotel.

  • Between 1990 and 1992, Wiltshire: allegedly indecently assaulting a male, aged between 12 and 14 years, who was not known to him, in private during a chance encounter in private gardens. The report states that there is "undermining evidence" for allegation seven, though Sir Edward would still have been interviewed about it under caution.