Jimmy Savile’s estate frozen following abuse allegations
The estate of Jimmy Savile, worth an estimated £4.3m, has been frozen in response to mounting claims of sexual abuse against the late BBC presenter and DJ.
NatWest Bank, which is acting as the Jim’ll Fix It presenter’s will executor and trustee, said that the distribution of his assets had been put on hold because of the allegations.
It is believed that the latest freeze may be in anticipation of legal claims for damages by Savile’s alleged victims. It comes as Scotland Yard leads a national investigation into his activities. There are claims that he is one of the UK’s most prolific abusers with about 300 possible victims.
The bank said: “Given the claims raised, distribution of the estate has been put on hold.”
Savile’s will was written in 2006. The Financial Times reported that it bequeathed his savings and other assets to 26 separate beneficiaries, and that £20,000 in cash was to be shared between 20 of his friends, family and neighbours.
The document reportedly said that a further £600,000 was to be put into a trust fund, with the interest shared between eight people, and that the remaining £3.7m or so would be held by NatWest on behalf of The Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust.
Detectives are following 400 lines of inquiry as part of the investigation into Savile. The BBC has also launched an inquiry into the culture and practices at the corporation in the era of his alleged sexual abuse.
It will also examine whether there were any failings in the BBC’s management of the Newsnight investigation into claims of abuse.
It is not the first time that the Savile estate has been frozen. In July, it was put on hold after a woman claimed to be his illegitimate daughter.