Footballers accused of gang rape in Park Lane hotel](Latest news & breaking headlines | The Times and The Sunday Times)
A TEENAGER who claims that she was gang raped in an incident involving eight Premiership footballers at one of London’s leading hotels was interviewed by police yesterday.
The girl, 17, says that she was attacked in a £200-a-night room at the five-star Grosvenor House hotel overlooking Park Lane. She is understood to have told police that she consented to sex with one of the players, but that** seven others from another club — including an international and a number of well-known players — then entered the room. At least two are alleged to have raped her, and the girl is also said to have complained that she was subjected to another serious sexual offence. **
A spokesman for the hotel said: “We can neither deny nor confirm that any incident took place here.” During the day, however, detectives sealed a third-floor room and took away a king-size bedspread and a number of glasses.
The teenager made her accusation 12 hours after the alleged attack when she went with a male friend to Marylebone police station in Central London. She told officers that she had agreed to go to the Grosvenor House after meeting some of the footballers in a West End nightclub. Yesterday she was interviewed by detectives from Scotland Yard’s Operation Sapphire unit, which investigates rape and serious sex assaults.
A report on the interview and her statement will be reviewed by a senior commander. Detectives will also study film from closed-circuit television cameras, which would show who was in the hotel at the time of the alleged attacks.
Investigators will be urged to tread cautiously after the collapse of the prosecution of the television presenter John Leslie and the case of Christine and Neil Hamilton, who were falsely accused of rape.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “We can confirm that the Metropolitan Police Service has received an allegation of rape from a 17-year-old female. At this stage it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
No players have been named by the police and the football club, which cannot be identified for legal reasons, said: “We are not making any statement at all.”
The club’s chairman arrived at the training ground before the players yesterday for talks with the manager, who is one of the most respected figures in the sport. One fan waiting outside said: “I come here regularly and I have never seen the chairman come down to the training ground. The players looked concerned. They would normally stop for a chat and to sign autographs, but there was none of that today.”
None of the club’s players commented as they left the training ground. When one star player, who is linked by rumour to the alleged incident, was approached at his home and asked whether he had any comment, he replied simply: “Nice one.”
An agent who represents a number of the footballers said: “There is nothing I can say about this, for obvious reasons.” He added that some of the players would consider legal action if they were identified. “People have to be very careful with the names they are bandying about, particularly with the name of the most prominent player.” The Premier League and the Professional Footballers’ Association also declined to comment.
The assault is alleged to have taken place in the early hours after the players had been to a bar and a nightclub in Central London. But the examination of the hotel room is understood to have yielded no evidence that would support the girl’s claims. There is also concern among police at the delay before the teenager made her allegation. The girl is understood to have been offered counselling and asked whether she wished to undergo an HIV test.
Operation Sapphire was established two years ago to deal with sexual offences across London, and the girl’s case is being investigated by a team based St John’s Wood.
Having been interviewed at length yesterday, she is expected to be seen several more times before any decision is taken to interview the players allegedly involved.
Mark Stephens, a solicitor who has represented a number of celebrity clients, said he believed that the names of those allegedly involved will leak out and that the Attorney-General may act to warn the media about possible prejudicial reporting. “Anyone being investigated will be going to see their lawyers,” he said. “You have got celebrity, sex and violence. It is going to be huge and the Attorney-General understands that.”
He said that if the footballers were guilty, they would face at least five years in jail. Aiding and abetting rape carries a penalty of two to three years in jail.
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Blue’s luck will run out soon and Villa will regain their rightful position (4th in the league table). Talent always wins.
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