Billionaire West Ham co-owner accused of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour
6/9/202639 min
David Sullivan has been accused of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour by several women dating back to the 1980s. In a joint investigation with the BBC, The Times has spoken to seven women about their experiences.
In his statement on 4 June, Sullivan announced his immediate resignation as joint-chair and director of West Ham, saying the “false allegations” had been “sensationalised” and none related to his time in football. He added: “After a lifetime spent building businesses in the adult industry in which I have met thousands of women, it is sadly inevitable that a small number of improper conduct claims are being made against me. I categorically deny these claims.” Before publication, Sullivan said that he reserved his legal rights in relation to “false or defamatory allegations” and would not be commenting further at this stage.
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Guests:
- Charlotte Wace, investigations correspondent, The Times.
- Shanti Das, senior investigations reporter, The Times.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Producer: Micaela Arneson.
Additional thanks to:
- James Beal, investigations editor, The Times.
- Charlotte Alt, news reporter, The Times.
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com
Read more: David Sullivan was ‘untouchable’. Now seven women are speaking out
Photo: Getty Images.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsManveen Rana· Host0:00
[dramatic music] From the Times and the Sunday Times, this is The Story. I'm Manveen Rana. Let me take you back to 1999. A young Tony Blair is in number 10. Britpop and Britart are vying to rule the cultural life of cool Britannia. And in a media overrun with lads mags and powerful tabloids, an up-and-coming glamour model, who we're calling Florence, is getting ready for what she hopes will be one of the most important moments of her career: a meeting with a media mogul.
Kate Lamble0:42
Oh my God, I'm gonna see David Sullivan, but only 'cause he's a big, powerful man. It'd be the same if I was meeting the king, just that, oh my God.
Manveen Rana· Host0:51
Before he became chairman of West Ham, a position he resigned from on Saturday, David Sullivan was one of the most powerful players in the world of porn and glamour magazines, owning half of the adult magazine market and the tabloids The Daily Sport and The Sunday Sport. Florence, whose words are being read by a producer to protect her identity, knew that an appointment with David Sullivan could be her big break. [dramatic music] She was just 20 years old when she arrived at Sullivan's mansion in Essex for the meeting.