Man released in Operation Yewtree inquiry

Police said there was not enough evidence to prosecute in this case

A 65-year-old man arrested as part of the Operation Yewtree investigation into alleged historical sexual offences has been released without charge.

The man had been arrested in February in south London on suspicion of sexual offences and later bailed.

The Metropolitan Police said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.

Operation Yewtree was set up in the wake of allegations against Jimmy Savile, but the man's arrest was unrelated to any of those allegations.

Police are exploring claims of sexual assault made against the late Savile, those involving Savile and others, and those involving others.

The 65-year-old released man had been arrested under the third strand of the inquiry.

A Metropolitan Police statement said: "The decision was made by the police that there was insufficient evidence to proceed.

"There was early investigative consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service but, in accordance with the director of public prosecution's guidance on charging, the police did not submit the case for full CPS advice to decide the outcome."

Some 589 people have come forward with information relating to the investigation, with 450 of those alleging they were sexually abused by Savile.

In January, a joint report by the Met Police and the NSPCC said 214 criminal offences had been formally recorded across 28 police force areas in which Savile was a suspect.

The former BBC presenter and DJ died in October 2011, aged 84.