HARVEY PROCTOR'S SHOCKING INVESTIGATION IN BILLERICAY AND LEICESTERSHIRE: POLICE RAID HOME OVER HISTORIC CHILD SEX ABUSE CLAIMS

In March 2015, the residence of former Conservative Member of Parliament Harvey Proctor was subjected to a thorough police search as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of historic child sex abuse. The operation was conducted by detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s specialized unit, Operation Midland, which is tasked with probing allegations linked to a purported VIP paedophile ring operating within Westminster over three decades ago.

The property being searched is situated within the expansive grounds of Belvoir Castle, located in Leicestershire near the town of Grantham. This estate spans approximately 16,000 acres, and Mr. Proctor, aged 68 at the time, is known to work for the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, who reside on the estate with their five children. The police raid drew significant media attention, given the high-profile nature of the allegations and the prominent political figure involved.

Operation Midland was initiated in November of the previous year, following claims that boys had been sexually abused by a powerful and secretive ring that allegedly included Westminster politicians and other influential figures. The investigation centers around allegations that three boys associated with this ring were murdered. These claims have been brought to light by a man known as “Nick,” who has provided detailed accounts to the police and media. He recounted that the first victim, a boy aged 10 or 11, was deliberately run over by a vehicle. Additionally, “Nick” claimed to have witnessed a 12-year-old boy being strangled by a then-Tory MP in the same room. In a further disturbing account, he alleged that a third boy was killed by two unidentified men in front of another Member of Parliament. Sources close to the investigation indicated that, as of last night, no arrests had been made in connection with these allegations.

During the police raid on his home, Harvey Proctor took the step of calling into BBC Radio 4’s Today programme to deny any involvement in wrongdoing. The former MP firmly stated that he had never attended “sex parties” and was unaware of the allegations that three young boys had been murdered by pedophiles linked to Westminster. He acknowledged that he had been convicted of gross indecency in 1987 but insisted that his actions at the time involved encounters with individuals he believed to be over 21, which was the legal age of consent at that period. He emphasized that the age of consent for homosexual acts has since been lowered to 16, and he argued that his past crimes, committed under the older legal framework, would not be considered illegal today.

Mr. Proctor also claimed to be a victim of homophobia, describing his situation as a “Kafka-esque” scenario. He denied participation in any “rent boy” rings involving Cabinet ministers, other MPs, or military personnel. He insisted that he led a discreet private life and that it was the press that had sensationalized and exposed his personal affairs. Regarding the ongoing investigation, he stated that police were examining historical allegations from the 1970s and 1980s, and he expressed frustration at being caught in what he described as a “fantasy” situation.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed that officers from Operation Midland were conducting a search at an address in Grantham, in connection with their inquiries. The operation involves detectives from both the child abuse investigation command and the homicide and major crime command.

Harvey Proctor admitted to having pleaded guilty to criminal charges in the 1980s, specifically relating to a sexual encounter with a 19-year-old man whom he believed to be over 21 at the time. He explained that he was unaware that the individuals involved were underage, as they had told him they were over 21. In 1987, he pleaded guilty to four charges of gross indecency, which at the time were considered criminal offenses. He pointed out that the legal age of consent for homosexual acts has since been reduced from 21 to 18, and later to 16, making his past convictions no longer applicable under current law.

Throughout his political career, Mr. Proctor maintained a reputation as a private and somewhat independent MP. He represented Basildon in Essex from 1979 to 1983 and Billericay from 1983 to 1987. He was also involved with the right-wing pressure group, the Monday Club. In 1987, he was convicted and fined a total of £1,450 for sex offenses involving teenage boys, which led to his resignation as MP for Billericay shortly before his trial.

Following his resignation, Proctor attempted to rebuild his career by opening two luxury shirt shops in 1988, with financial backing from former colleagues such as Michael Heseltine and Jeffrey Archer. His ventures faced difficulties, and in 2000, his stores were forced into liquidation after legal action by Customs and Excise over unpaid VAT bills.

In addition to his political and business pursuits, Proctor was involved in a violent incident in 1992, when he and Neil Hamilton, then a government minister, were assaulted by two men during what was described as a “gay bashing expedition” at Proctor’s shop in Richmond-on-Thames. Hamilton sustained a broken nose in the attack.

Throughout the years, allegations and legal proceedings have continued to follow Harvey Proctor. In 1987, he appeared in court charged with indecency, accused of engaging in acts with teenage males between June and August of the previous year. He was remanded on bail, with his lawyer, Sir David Napley, requesting additional time to prepare his defense. The case attracted media attention, with claims that Proctor had organized gay spanking sessions with boys in his London flat, allegations that he has consistently denied.

In recent times, members of his constituency party in Billericay have called for a meeting to discuss his future as their MP, amid ongoing controversy. Despite surviving two previous attempts to remove him, the allegations continue to cast a shadow over his reputation. Proctor’s association with the Monday Club and his outspoken views on immigration have also kept him in the public eye, often amid controversy and debate.

Harvey Proctor’s case remains a complex and highly sensitive matter, intertwining allegations of historic abuse, legal convictions, political career, and personal privacy. The police investigation continues, and the full truth of these serious allegations remains to be seen.