UK police launch sex offense investigation into author, TV personality David Walliams

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London police say they are investigating children’s author and TV personality David Walliams for serious sexual offenses after news outlets reported allegations of misconduct

London police say they are investigating children’s author and TV personality David Walliams for serious sexual offenses after news outlets reported allegations of misconduct

LONDON -- London police said Friday that they are investigating children’s author and TV personality David Walliams for serious sexual offenses after news outlets reported that he used his fame to groom girls and young women for sex.

The Metropolitan Police said it had received a number of allegations of past abuse following the joint investigation by ITV News and the Guardian newspaper.

One woman said in the reports that she was sexually assaulted by Walliams at his London home when she was 15, while others accused him of grooming them when they were teens.

Police are investigating different allegations than those reported by the news outlets, but said they will look into the news stories for any evidence of other crimes.

Walliams, 55, has denied the allegations, saying he had not broken any laws and was not a sexual predator.

“I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me,” Walliams said in writing to ITV and the Guardian. “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.”

Walliams is best known as the co-creator and co-star in “Little Britain,” a hugely popular TV comedy sketch show in the 2000s, but he’s also a celebrated children’s book author with some 40 published titles that sold more than 60 million copies worldwide, according to his website.

Several books, including “Gangsta Granny,” have been adapted into BBC comedy dramas and stage productions. Producers of “Fing!” — an upcoming film based on Walliams’ book — said in a statement Tuesday that they had removed his cameo appearance and that Walliams “will have no involvement in the film’s release or promotion.” He is credited as a co-writer.

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