Even the FAMILY of the man who accused war hero Lord Bramall of sex abuse say his claims are 'fantasy'

  • Ex-army chief and D-Day veteran was accused of historical sex abuse
  • He was cleared earlier this month, but the accuser's family told police of inconsistencies in his evidence last summer
  • Family handed over photographs claiming to show evidence was wrong
  • Accuser, known only as 'Nick', also claimed to be a Jimmy Savile victim 

By MATT DATHAN, MAILONLINE POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

Published: | Updated:

Lord Bramall's accuser, known as 'Nick', claimed he had been abused by the former army chief

Lord Bramall's accuser, known as 'Nick', claimed he had been abused by the former army chief

The family of the man who accused war hero Lord Bramall of historical sex abuse warned police of contradictions in his evidence last summer, it has emerged.

The accuser, known only as 'Nick', alleged that the former army chief and D-Day veteran abused him at an army base from 1976 to 1984.

But Scotland Yard dropped its investigation into Lord Bramall earlier this month and it was revealed that the case against him was so weak that a file was not even submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Now members of Nick's own family have described some of his allegations as 'fantasy' and have submitted evidence – including photographs – which they say will discredit the claims.

Lord Bramall was among a number of high profile figures accused of abuse by Nick and included Sir Edward Heath, the former prime minister and Lord Brittan, the former home secretary. 

Allegations by Nick sparked the Metropolitan Police's Operation Midland investigation, which is estimated to have cost the taxpayer £2 million to run. 

Nick, who is in his 40s, told police that he had been passed to the VIP paedophile ring by his late stepfather, who he claimed had also abused him.  

Nick also claimed to be a Jimmy Savile victim while appearing on a TV crime documentary in 2014

Nick also claimed to be a Jimmy Savile victim while appearing on a TV crime documentary in 2014

But his stepfather's ex-wife, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the Daily Telegraph that although Nick's stepfather - who died in the mid-1990s - was 'not a particularly good husband,' he was a 'very proper man' and said his family could not believe Nick's 'ridiculous' claims.

'I knew him and I just can't believe for one minute what has been said about him,' she said.

'I simply do not recognise the person Nick has described. It just sounds like fantasy.'

She added that her daughter has photographs that can prove Nick's statements were inconsistent with the truth.

In a statement to police Nick had said his stepfather explained away bruising on his body by saying he had fallen off a horse, but Nick insisted he had never ridden a horse in his life.

One of the photographs handed to the police shows Nick on horseback, which his family hope will clear his stepfather's name. 

Last week it emerged that Nick had also claimed to be a Jimmy Savile victim while appearing on TV crime documentary in 2014, but during an interview on the show he made no mention of abuse by a political or military figure.

 

 

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