Met Police launches investigation into performer over alleged sexual offences

It confirmed the allegations are separate from those reported by ITN and The Guardian.

However, as part of their investigation, detectives are also proactively reviewing that reporting to establish whether there is any evidence of offences.

Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney, whose team is leading the investigation, issued a statement.

He said: “We would encourage anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to come forward and speak to us, no matter when it happened.

“We know reporting allegations of this nature can be daunting, but specialist officers are on hand to provide support, answer questions and guide you through the process.”

Those who have come forward are being supported by specialist officers, the Met confirmed.

The first allegations against Mr Walliams were published by The Guardian and ITV News on Tuesday after he lost a court battle to block the publication of the claims.

Mr Walliams had asked the High Court to block the publication of the investigation on the basis that if they were made public it was “highly likely” he would kill himself.

The court rejected the request, saying the risks could be mitigated, and Mr Walliams failed to lodge an appeal.

As part of that investigation, the former Britain’s Got Talent star was accused of preying on girls as young as 15.

Speaking to ITV News and The Guardian, multiple women alleged the comedian and author used his celebrity status to prey on them for sexual purposes when they were teenagers or young women.

One girl claims she was 15 when Mr Walliams first contacted her, and by the time she was 17 they were having sex.

Mr Walliams denied all of the allegations in a letter provided to The Guardian by his lawyers.

“Looking back, I realise that at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with,” he said.

“I realise I did not always take people’s feelings properly into account. That is something I regret. And whilst a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous, abusing that power is something else entirely and it is something that I never did.”

He added: “I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law, but I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me.”