A LAWYER has said a former brothel madam had "no knowledge" of any misconduct by former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath in relation to child sex abuse.

Filipino-born Myra Forde's trial collapsed in the 1990s after she was accused of running a brothel in Wiltshire, where Mr Heath lived. It was alleged that she was going to name Sir Edward.

Her former lawyer, Richard Forde, who represented her at the time she was later convicted of brothel keeping, has now told the Salisbury Journal newspaper that "at no stage did she state that Ted Heath was a client."

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is looking at whether a case involving Forde was dropped by Wiltshire Police due to allegations being made about the former Tory leader, who died a decade ago.

She was later convicted of controlling prostitutes in Wiltshire, and jailed for six years. The trial heard claims she had supplied youngsters as young as 13 to clients. She was also prosecuted, and jailed again, 14 years later for inciting prostitution.

At least five police forces are investigating child sex claims involving former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath.

 

Detectives in Wiltshire, London, Kent, Jersey and Hampshire are looking into abuse allegations linked to the late politician.

But Mr Forde told the Salisbury Journal: "My former client wishes me to make it very clear that at no stage did she state that Ted Heath was a client and at no stage did she threaten to expose him as a client of hers if the prosecution was continued.

"For the avoidance of any doubt, Myra Forde wishes me to make it clear that she had no involvement with Ted Heath of any kind and has no knowledge of any misconduct on his part."

He added that prosecutors "took what, at the time, seemed a sensible decision that they could not prove their case and offered no evidence".

The scope of police scrutiny widened after an investigation was launched into an alleged cover-up of a claim against Sir Edward.

He became the most high-profile figure linked to historical paedophile allegations on Monday when the police watchdog announced an inquiry into allegations that a prosecution was shelved after a threat was made to "expose" him.

Scotland Yard has refused to confirm suggestions that Sir Edward is being looked at as part of Operation Midland, a Scotland Yard inquiry into claims a VIP paedophile ring operated in the 1970s and 1980s.

Midland is part of a wider umbrella of investigations by Scotland Yard, dubbed Operation Fairbank, into allegations of abuse involving senior politicians and high-profile figures.

A man, now aged in his 60s, claimed he was raped at the age of 12 by the Conservative MP in 1961 but was branded "a liar and a fantasist" when he reported it to social workers two months later.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "In April 2015 an allegation of rape was made to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). An officer from Operation Fairbank interviewed the complainant that same month and obtained a full account. Support services were offered.

"However, after a full assessment of the allegation there were no lines of inquiry that could proportionately be pursued by the MPS."

He said the force was not prepared to discuss why that decision had been taken.

The States of Jersey Police confirmed the former prime minister features in Operation Whistle, an inquiry into alleged historical abuse on the island.

Later, Kent Police said they had received a report on Tuesday of a sexual assault in the east of the county in the 1960s.

Wiltshire Police said its officers and the NSPCC had received "a number of calls" following appeals for potential victims and those with information to come forward.

Former friends and colleagues of Sir Edward have rallied to his defence.

The Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation said: "We welcome the investigation by Wiltshire Police, which we wholeheartedly believe will clear Sir Edward's name and we will co-operate fully with the police in their inquiries."

Sir Edward, who led the Conservative government between 1970 and 1974, never married and was famously reticent about his private life.

One biographer concluded that he may have been a latent or repressed homosexual while another thought he was "pretty well sexless". He died at home in Salisbury aged 89 in July 2005.

A Wiltshire Police spokeswoman said: "Wiltshire Police continue to receive a number of calls following appeals for information regarding Sir Edward Heath. We are working closely with the NSPCC and other forces to establish and progress the information they have received where appropriate.

"We would encourage anyone who has been a victim of abuse or who has information to contact the dedicated NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 where specialist staff are available to assist callers."