Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Politics
Lizzy Buchan

Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor sues Metropolitan Police for £1m over false child sex abuse claims

A former Conservative MP who was falsely accused of child sex abuse is suing Scotland Yard and his accuser for more than £1 million.

Harvey Proctor, 71, has lodged a High Court claim against the Metropolitan Police and the man, identified only as "Nick", who sparked the Westminster sex abuse scandal by claiming he had been raped and abused by a VIP paedophile ring.

Operation Midland was launched in 2014 into historic allegations of child murder, rape and torture by senior figures in politics, the army and the security forces in the 1970s and 80s - based largely on Nick's allegations.

However £2.5m investigation collapsed without any arrests and Nick has since appeared in court charged with possession of indecent images of children.

Mr Proctor said the accusations and investigation have caused him to lose his "home, employment, reputation and other consequential losses including personal injury".

He told Sky News: "The police have destroyed my life. It will not be, cannot be the same, as it was before.

"I'm certainly not the same person I was in 2015 and redress can never be, things can never be put right."

Mr Proctor was investigated by police during the 18-month inquiry but he was exonerated in 2016 after police found insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges.

An independent review criticised the police handling of the case. Scotland Yard has also apologised.

As part of their investigation, police raided the homes of prominent figures, including D-Day veteran Lord Bramall, the former chief of the defence staff, and the late ex-home secretary Lord Brittan.

The Metropolitan Police has already paid damages to Lord Bramall and to the family of Lord Brittan.

A spokesman said: "The Metropolitan Police Service has received a complaint and will be filing a defence."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.