TOO LATE

Britain Missed Chances to Charge Savile

New report investigates 50 years of abuse.

Late BBC presenter Jimmy Savile has been accused of sexually abusing boys and girls as young as 8 in 214 reported incidents over 50 years, according to a report released Friday. The investigation, conducted by Britain’s Metropolitan Police Service and the nonprofit firm the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, says there is evidence that Savile was a “predatory sex offender.” Savile has been accused of sexual abuse of young girls, occurring mainly at hospitals and group homes and even some at the BBC headquarters, with the investigation finding that the accusations date back to 1955 and the most recent was in 2009. Britain’s chief prosecutor, Keir Starmer, apologized Friday to women allegedly abused by Savile, and said police missed three chances to take Savile to trial.