Metropolitan Police Open Criminal Investigation into David Walliams Over Historical Sex Offence Allegations

The Metropolitan Police have launched a criminal investigation into David Walliams over alleged serious sexual offences.

Walliams, 55, is accused by ITV and The Guardian of using his power and celebrity status to prey on young women and teenagers for sex. He has denied any wrongdoing and any suggestion that he is a sexual predator or has broken the law.

The Met said the new investigation concerns allegations separate from those reported by ITV and The Guardian, but detectives are also reviewing those reports to establish whether any offences are evidenced. The complaints involve several people and are understood to date back to the 2000s, described by police as “non‑recent serious sexual offences involving a man now in his 50s”.

At least some of those who complained did so this week, giving initial accounts to detectives from the Met’s specialist crime division. Those statements were sufficient to trigger a full criminal investigation by detectives who specialise in serious and complex sexual offences. Police have not named Walliams, who remains in a medical facility, and are protecting the anonymity of complainants.

Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney, who leads the unit handling the case, encouraged any victims of sexual offences to come forward, emphasising that specialist officers are available to provide support and guidance. In a letter to journalists, Walliams acknowledged that in hindsight he behaved thoughtlessly in past casual relationships, expressing regret for not considering others’ feelings, but he denied abusing power or committing any crime.

Additional claims reported by The Guardian and ITV include accounts from two women who say they were groomed by Walliams when they were 15 and that the impact persists into adulthood. Further allegations concern his conduct on Britain’s Got Talent and at his former publisher HarperCollins, where he is said to have had a sexual relationship with a junior staff member.

Since the allegations were published, Walliams has been dropped by his literary agency, the BBC has begun removing his programmes from iPlayer, and the Labour Party has suspended his membership.

People with information can contact the Met by calling 101 and quoting reference 4900/10NOV26, or by phoning the complex sexual offences unit on 020 7175 2738.

Support services for anyone affected by sexual abuse are available in the UK through Rape Crisis, Napac, Samaritans and other helplines listed above.

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