London’s Metropolitan Police have opened an investigation after receiving allegations of non-recent serious sexual offences involving a man in his 50s; the force also says detectives are reviewing earlier reporting about David Walliams. The police announcement is a new development in a story first reported jointly by ITV News and The Guardian, whose earlier allegations Walliams denies.

What police have confirmed

The Met said it had received several allegations of non-recent serious sexual offences involving a man now in his 50s. In a statement reported by ITV, police said the allegations were separate from those described in the earlier ITV News and Guardian investigation, while detectives were also reviewing that reporting to establish whether it contained evidence of offences.

The force has not publicly detailed the new allegations. The investigation’s opening does not establish that any offence occurred, and no court finding of guilt is reported. Associated Press, ITV News and The Guardian identify Walliams as the subject of the investigation; the police statement itself describes the person only as a man in his 50s.

How this follows the earlier reporting

ITV News and The Guardian published a joint investigation on Nov. 10 describing allegations from multiple women. Walliams denied the allegations in that reporting. The police announcement adds a separate set of allegations and says investigators are also reviewing the news organizations’ earlier work; it does not resolve the claims or describe the next investigative steps.

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Sources

ITV News: Met Police investigation and statement (Nov. 13); The Guardian: police investigation and prior reporting (Nov. 13); Associated Press: police investigation (Nov. 13); Associated Press: earlier allegations and Walliams’ denial (Nov. 10).