Savile victims ‘how to claim compensation’ ads

Newspaper advertisements have been published telling people who claim they were sexually abused by television presenter Jimmy Savile how to apply for compensation.

Around 140 people have come forward to say they were abused by the DJ and entertainer, who died in October 2011 aged 84.

The compensation scheme was approved following a ruling at the High Court in February.

Mr Justice Sales sanctioned the scheme after agreement between NatWest, the executor of Savile’s estate, lawyers representing Savile’s alleged victims, the NHS and the BBC.

He described the compensation scheme as a ‘sensible and pragmatic’ attempt at solving a ‘complex situation’, and also approved the publishing of the newspaper advertisements.

They appear in today’s Times and Daily Mirror newspapers, as well as some local newspapers.

The adverts advise people who wish to make a claim for sexual assault by Savile to do so within the next six weeks, by June 3. The claim scheme will be open for a year, within which it is hoped all claims will be paid, the adverts say. Payments will be capped at £60,000 each, the BBC said.

Lawyers initially put the value of Savile’s estate at around £4 million, but Mr Justice Sales said the current value was about £3.3 million.

Solicitors representing alleged victims have said that the scheme will not guarantee payouts but will provide a framework within which claims can be analysed.

Savile, who worked at the BBC, has been accused of being a serial child abuser and sex offender, and was alleged to have abused people in hospitals.

Lawyers have said they think the vast majority of alleged victims have already emerged.