JIMMY Savile was once a much-loved entertainer, known for his flamboyant personality, charity work and friendships with Prince Charles and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

But it emerged he had abused more than 1,000 victims over six decades by using his status and influence to escape suspicion.

4 Savile, a paedophile, was a much-loved star watched by millions Credit: Getty - Contributor

Who was Jimmy Savile?

Savile was born in Leeds on October 31 1926, one of seven children.

He survived serious spinal injuries while working in a coal mine as a "Bevin Boy" during the Second World War before becoming a dance hall DJ and manager.

He moved into radio in the late 1950s at Radio Luxembourg before joining BBC Radio One as a presenter.

In 1964 he presented the first ever Top Of The Pops, and continued to make appearances on the show for decades.

More TV work followed, including kids' show Jim'll Fix It.

Some of his broadcasts drew audiences of 20 million.

4 After he died it emerged Savile was a prolific paedophile Credit: EPA FILE

Why was Jimmy Savile knighted?

Savile is also estimated to have raised £40million for charity, particularly Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he volunteered for many years as a porter.

It is now believed that Savile sexually abused vulnerable patients here and at other hospitals.

Horrifyingly, he was the face of childhood safety campaigns and even a pamphlet called Stranger Danger, which warned children to be wary of suspicious adults.

He was awarded the OBE in 1971 and was knighted in 1990.

When did he die?

Savile died on October 29, 2011.

He was found dead at his home in Roundhay, two days before his 85th birthday.

4 Sir Jimmy Savile at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in September 2003 Credit: Alamy

What were Jimmy Savile's crimes?

Savile was exposed as a paedophile in 2012 and the following year a joint Scotland Yard and NSPCC report branded him one of the UK’s most prolific known sexual predators.

It's estimated he sexually assaulted hundreds of women and children in a campaign of abuse lasting more than 50 years.

Operation Yewtree was launched after a flood of allegations in the wake of an ITV documentary screened in October 2012 exposed the late DJ as a paedophile.

It was then extended to include a host of other showbiz personalities suspected of child abuse.

Victims have told how Top of the Pops host Savile raped or molested them in his BBC dressing room.

Others said they were abused when the once-revered entertainer visited schools, children’s homes and hospitals under the cover of his prolific charity work.

During Operation Yewtree, cops discovered monster Savile had abused a patient at High Royds Hospital in West Yorkshire.

4 Chilling images show the remains of abandoned High Royds Hospital Credit: Media Drum World

The assault took place during a fancy dress for its 100th anniversary celebrations, where the sicko also allegedly "groped staff's breasts" and "put his hand up their skirts".

Victims didn't complain about the "dirty old man" because it was an "occupational hazard of being a woman" at the time, according to a report.

Spooky images show the inside of the abandoned unit for disturbed youngsters which closed in 2003.

A compensation scheme was set up for victims, which drew on the money he had in his estate before he died, and meant those named in his will received none of the bequeathed amounts.

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How did Jimmy Savile escape detection?

A mixture of his celebrity status and police mistakes allowed the monster to get away with his crimes for his entire life.

He was questioned on a number of occasions but nothing ever came of the enquiries.

Seven police investigations launched into Savile’s sexual activities before he died, but officers have said that separate police forces across Britain were unable to connect the dots, partly because a national crime database did not come into operation until 2010.

Anne-Marie McAlinden, an expert on sexual abuse at Queen’s University Belfast, said Savile had used his influence to groom not just his victims but also anyone who might take a closer look at the suspicions around him.

She said: "Not only did he abuse his position of trust and authority, which was amplified because he was a celebrity, he extended it to the whole organisation, to the BBC and even the press."