...after arrest by Savile investigators

Freddie Starr has been released on police bail following his arrest by the operation investigating claims of sex abuse by Jimmy Savile.

The 69-year-old comic was arrested at his Warwickshire home at 5.45pm yesterday on suspicion of sexual offences.

He was taken into custody and released eight hours later, at 2am.

Police working on Operation Yewtree said: ‘The individual falls under the strand of the investigation we have termed “Savile and others”.’

Starr has previously been very vehement in denying claims he groped a girl of 14 while in a room with Savile in 1974.

He last week said he was prepared to talk to police to clear his name, saying: 'Ask me anything - anything. I'll be interviewed by any police force.'

And he previously branded Savile ‘despicable’ and ‘disgusting’, adding: ‘I feel deeply sorry for them [his alleged victims] for having to go through what that scumbag put them through, I really do care for them.

'Don’t fucking tar me with the same brush as Jimmy Savile or Gary Glitter. If there is one thing I’ve always hated it’s paedophiles. If I see something on the TV about a kid getting hurt, I just have to turn it off.

‘I can’t stand that sort of bloke. I’ve always been against paedophiles and always will be. I’ve never touched any under-aged girl in my life. Paedophiles are a pet hate of mine, so I refute it completely.’

Starr had previously tried and failed to obtain an injunction barring the press from naming him in connection with the allegations

On Sunday, Glitter, real name Paul Gadd, was arrested and bailed after being questioned as part of the same inquiry. He has been released on bail until December.

Published: 2 Nov 2012