David Walliams has been accused of grooming teenage girls and pursuing young women for sexual purposes, following a three-year investigation by ITV News and The Guardian.
The investigation, published on Tuesday, November 10, details allegations from multiple women who claim the comedian used his celebrity status to approach them when they were teenagers or vulnerable young adults.
One woman, identified as Jade to protect her identity, described an alleged encounter with Walliams when she was just 15 years old as both grooming and a sexual assault.
David Walliams . Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
According to her account, she first came into contact with the Little Britain star in 2007 after commenting on a photograph of him on MySpace.
She claims Walliams, then 36, sent her a private message before asking for her phone number and arranging to meet her in London.
Jade told ITV News and The Guardian that their conversation initially involved ordinary questions about her school life. However, she said it was not long before he asked whether she had ever had sex.
She claims Walliams subsequently took her to his home, where he began kissing and touching her in a way she did not want.
Recalling the alleged encounter, Jade told the media: "That's when I pulled away and said no. I wasn't ready for sex. I didn't want to do that - with him or with anyone."
She also recalled Walliams telling her they should wait until she was 16 and keep in contact.
Jade said she left his home and never saw him again, but claims the experience has continued to affect her almost two decades later.
David Walliams . Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
She is not the only woman to have come forward with allegations.
ITV News and The Guardian also spoke to another woman who claims Walliams began contacting her when she was 15, after meeting him at a Little Britain fan event. She alleges that their relationship later became sexual when she was 17.
The investigation also includes allegations of inappropriate behaviour and sexual harassment involving women at Britain's Got Talent and his former publisher HarperCollins.
The two news organisations spoke to dozens of sources and reviewed emails, social media messages and other material during their three-year investigation.
Walliams strongly denies the allegations, including any criminal wrongdoing.
In a statement to ITV News and The Guardian, he said: "I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law."
