They said they've found no reference to a death at the children's home

New allegations: Police are investigating after a man who was in care at Roecliffe Manor children's home in Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire said that Savile 'dragged away' a girl later found dead

Police are today investigating whether Jimmy Savile may have been involved in the death of a child during his 50 year campaign of abuse, it was revealed today.

The male witness, who claims he was also sexually abused by the late DJ, said he saw Savile and a friend 'drag away' a little girl who was found dead in Leicestershire the next day.

The vulnerable child called either 'April or Elizabeth' was being cared for at the Roecliffe Manor children's convalescent home in Woodhouse Eaves in the 1960s, the informant said.

The allegation was detailed in a report published today following an independent investigation into Savile by University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.

The report stated: 'The Informant stated that he witnessed a girl, who he believes was called April or Elizabeth, being dragged across the garden at Roecliffe Manor by “Jimmy” and another man. She appeared to be in a stupor.

'The next day the Informant was told by the Matron that this girl had died'.

However, the report concluded that it could not corroborate the claim and said it had found 'no reference to the death of a child at Roecliffe Manor'.



But Leicestershire Police has today confirmed it is investigating the claims. Roecliffe Manor was shut shortly after the alleged incident in the 1960s.



A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said : 'Leicestershire Police has received the report on Roecliffe Manor, and started an investigation to determine if abuse took place and if so to what extent. That investigation is ongoing.'

The report did conclude that sexual abuse was 'likely to have taken place' at the home but said its extent could not be known.

It added that it 'has not been possible to associate Jimmy Savile with the abuse' other than the claim made by the complainant, who was recovering from tuberculosis between the ages of four and nine.



The report's author Sue Walters said her investigation had been 'challenging' because the allegations into the home in the village of Woodhouse Eaves dated back over 50 years.

She concluded the evidence of two victims who alleged sexual abuse had taken place was 'convincing', and has passed their complaints to police for further investigation.



'Other than the informant, no other individual interviewed, or record read, made reference to Jimmy Savile (JS) being present at Roecliffe Manor,' the report read.

Ms Walters concluded the evidence she had seen was 'not of sufficient strength in nature to enable the lead investigator to conclude that the man who abused the Informant was in fact JS.'

The victim's allegations first came to light when he contacted Operation Yewtree investigators, who have looked into hundreds of claims of abuse at Savile's hands, claiming he was abused by the former DJ on at least four occasions.



He told Ms Walters a man 'called Jimmy' would come to the home, bringing books and film reels, and 'would have us kissing and cuddling him'.



The victim told her 'he managed to make you feel loved and cared for' but had later abused him.

