Ex-Radio 1 man denies sex offences

Former BBC radio producer Ted Beston has "vehemently denied" historic allegations put to him by detectives investigating the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal.

Beston, 76, was arrested by Operation Yewtree detectives on Wednesday morning on suspicion of sexual offences, then later bailed until February.

In a statement released through his lawyers, the former Radio 1 producer said he was shocked by the allegations.

The statement added: "What emerged in October 2012 was a side of Savile that Mr Beston never knew."

The statement, released by Ewings and Co Solicitors, said: "Yesterday, Ted Beston, the former Radio 1 producer, was arrested by officers from Operation Yewtree. Mr Beston was not charged. Mr Beston vehemently denies the historic allegations put to him by the police.

"When the Savile story surfaced in October, Mr Beston made clear then that he was shocked by the allegations. For the time being, Mr Beston will be saying nothing further and we request that Mr Beston, who is now 76, be allowed to deal with these false claims without undue intrusion."

Operation Yewtree detectives are looking at three strands within their inquiry: claims against Savile, those against Savile and others, and those against others.

Beston, who was arrested under the strand of the investigation termed "Savile and others", became the eighth person to be arrested in the inquiry. Other high-profile names include former pop star Gary Glitter, comedian Freddie Starr and publicist Max Clifford.

On Monday, Starr and Clifford were re-bailed to return on dates in February and March pending further inquiries. Glitter, whose real is Paul Gadd, and a man in his 70s, reported to be former television producer Wilfred De'Ath - were previously re-bailed to dates in February.

Last week, police said they had recorded 199 crimes in 17 force areas in which Savile is a suspect, with 31 allegations of rape recorded against him in seven force areas.