Author:Paul Gambaccini
No doubt most users of this site will be familiar with the name of Paul Gambaccini, the American DJ and author, most commonly found of late broadcasting on Radios Two and Four.
This book chronicles his arrest by the police under Operation Yewtree following an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor.
This is a case that was originally dropped for lack of evidence long before Gambaccini was actually arrested, and then revived after the original complainant produced a friend to corroborate his claims and to make similar allegations of his own.
Despite being rebailed numerous times over the subsequent twelve months, the case was eventually dropped by the CPS, who apparently thought that chance of a successful prosecution was less than 5% compared to the 75% they use as a benchmark.
This is in many ways a nightmarish book, an ordeal of Kafkaesque proportions created by an anonymous allegation, eventually followed by a second one. Despite the long period in limbo on police bail, no others complainants came forward over the next year.
If there is a criticism of the book, it is that there is rather a lot of name dropping of famous friends. Nevertheless, it captures very well Gambaccini’s confusion, dismay and then rage at the situation he finds himself in, unemployable with huge irrecoverable legal costs and his reputation in tatters. The names of his accusers remain anonymous.
Compelling reading.
Length of Read:Medium
Might appeal to people who enjoyed…
Enjoyed is not really the right word for a book like this, but it is certainly worth your time.
One thing you’ve learned
Blur drummer Dave Rowntree makes a cameo appearance at his day job, in his role as solicitor for the still anonymous Yewtree 16, who at the time of the alleged offences resided in the same block of London apartments as Gambacinni, and who was arrested and then subsequently released on the same dates as the author.
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