Jimmy Savile 'assaulted 10-year-old boy in Jersey'

Sir Jimmy Savile sexually assaulted a 10-year-old boy while he was at the Haut de la Garenne children's home in Jersey, a lawyer has claimed.

Alan Collins, a lawyer for the alleged victim, said the "vulnerable" boy had been subjected to a serious assault.

Savile has been named several times by people claiming to have been victims of child abuse in Jersey, he said.

Jersey Police said they had received only one complaint linking Savile to abuse at the home.

That complaint relates to abuse dating back to the 1970s, the force said.

Mr Collins, who is representing 42 people who say they were abused in Jersey care homes, said: "I would urge other victims and anyone who has information regarding alleged abuse by Jimmy Savile to come forward.

"Any information would be treated in the strictest confidence."

The States of Jersey Police said claims about Savile were investigated during an inquiry into abuse at the Jersey children's home, but there was insufficient evidence to proceed.

The three-year inquiry into child abuse at Haut de la Garenne heard allegations the Leeds-born DJ was involved in an indecent assault in the 1970s.

'Much bigger picture'

Savile died last year aged 84.

Mr Collins, from Manchester-based law firm Pannone, said the reason more people had not gone to the police about Savile was because of how wide the Jersey historical abuse inquiry was.

He said: "It was a wide-ranging inquiry spanning decades and dealing with numerous alleged abusers. A vast range of alleged abusers with many victims spanning many decades.

"It is fair to say in one sense that Jimmy Savile, at that stage, was a walk on part as it were. He was just part of a much bigger and complex picture."

From September 2007, police involved in the Haut de la Garenne investigation took 1,776 statements from 192 alleged victims, identifying 151 alleged abusers.

Seven people were successfully prosecuted.

Savile was a regular visitor to Jersey and was Mr Battle of Flowers three times, the last time in 2002.

The Metropolitan Police Service said they were pursuing 340 separate lines of inquiry since they took the national lead in investigating the claims about Savile. They said there were 40 potential victims.