The man behind Scotland Yard's disastrous £2.5m VIP child sex abuse inquiry was today charged with 13 criminal offences over his claims of serial murder and rape.

The Crown Prosecution Service announced the man known only as 'Nick' had been charged with 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one count of fraud.

The Met's inquiry into the man's allegations of child rape and murder involving an Establishment child sex ring including ex PM Edward Heath, former Home Secretary Leon Brittan, ex-military chief Lord Bramall and ex Tory MP Harvey Proctor closed without a single arrest.

The man at the centre of claims of a Westminster sex ring has been charged with perverting the course of justice

Lord Brittan's widow Diana and Lord Bramall have each received about £100,000 in out of court compensation settlements with the force over its disastrous investigation.

Frank Ferguson, CPS Head of Special Crime, said: 'The CPS has considered a file of evidence from Northumbria Police relating to allegations of perverting the course of justice and fraud by a 50-year-old man.

'The police investigation provided evidence that the man had made a number of false allegations alleging multiple homicides and sexual abuse said to have been carried out in the 1970s and 1980s.

'Following careful consideration we have concluded there is sufficient evidence to bring a number of criminal charges.

'He has today been charged with 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one count of fraud and will appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court in due course.

'Criminal proceedings in relation to this matter are now active and it is extremely important there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.'

One of the man's claims concerned MP Harvey Proctor (pictured, left), who says the false claims ruined his reputation, another involved former Prime Minister Edward Heath (right)

Two months ago Mr Proctor launched an unprecedented £1million claim for damages against Scotland Yard and Nick over Operation Midland.

Mr Proctor, 71, previously stated that the investigation and allegations resulted in him losing his job and his home, and also caused him to suffer 'a major depressive illness' and damage to his reputation.

Operation Midland began to unravel in September 2015 after the Daily Mail revealed concerns about the running of the inquiry and the substance of Nick's claims of serial murder and rape.