Police apologise for 'missed opportunities' to stop Savile

A formal apology has been issued to the victims of notorious sex offender Jimmy Savile as police admitted they missed a number of chances to investigate him while still alive.

North Yorkshire Police said an investigation into Savile and one of his high-profile friends, former Mayor of Scarborough Peter Jaconelli, had found there would even have been enough evidence to consider prosecuting the pair.

A total of 35 people had come forward to lodge allegations against the two men, with five reporting offences by Savile between 1979 and 1988, ranging from sexual assault to rape.

A force spokesman said 32 reports were against Jaconelli, dating between 1958 and 1998 and ranging from inciting a child to engage in sexual activity to rape.