Sir Cyril Smith 'victim': Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal brought it back to me

 
15 November 2012
WEST END FINAL

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A man who claims he was abused by the late Liberal Democrat politician Sir Cyril Smith has spoken out about the alleged ordeal - and said the Jimmy Savile affair has brought it back into the forefront of his mind.

Barry Fitton, 66, is one of three alleged victims who claim the Ex-Rochdale MP abused them at a care home during the 1960s.

In an interview with the Manchester Evening News, Mr Fitton accused Sir Cyril of slapping and stroking his naked buttocks and fondling him when he was 15.

He said when he first turned up at Cambridge House boys' hostel in Rochdale he was ordered to take a medical examination.

"I turned up and was asked to go into this room and they said you have to have a medical examination," he told the newspaper.

"I thought it would be a doctor, but it was Cyril.

"He told me to take my pants down and he started to fondle me.

"I thought it was odd and not right, but as far as I was concerned, Cyril was completely powerful."

On another occasion, Mr Fitton said he was disciplined by the politician, who died two years ago aged 82.

He continued: "There was an incident when I took the day off with another lad and went into Manchester and he heard about it because the place we worked approached him when we didn't turn up to work.

"So then we got back and I was told to go into the front room and wait for Cyril.

"He said 'take your pants down', put me over his knee and gave me a good spank.

"I cried and he stroked my bottom and said you're all right now, I'm sorry, it had to be done."

Mr Fitton, who waived his right to anonymity, added: "Then the other boy went in and I assume the same thing happened to him.

"When I sit watching the Jimmy Savile affair, it all comes back to me."

Police yesterday urged anyone who believes they were the victim of sexual abuse by Sir Cyril to come forward.

It came a day after current Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk told the House of Commons that a "full investigation" into allegations against Sir Cyril, who was Rochdale MP from 1972 to 1992, must take place.

The Labour MP said: "Young boys were humiliated, terrified and reduced to quivering wrecks by a 29st bully imposing himself on them."

MPs were told the abuse centred on the Cambridge House hostel where Sir Cyril was given "a disciplinarian role".

Mr Danczuk, who named Eddie Shorrock as another alleged teenage victim, added that authorities were aware of allegations Sir Cyril targeted children, but that a report into the accusations vanished.

Sir Cyril's brother, Norman Smith has rejected the claims.

He said: "It's a load of nonsense. It's been proved on more than one occasion that there's no case.

"Lancashire Police investigated a few years ago and said there was nothing to prove."

Lancashire Police said yesterday: "We would encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of sexual abuse by Mr Smith, or who has any information about possible abuse committed by him, to come forward and report those concerns to Lancashire Constabulary.

"We take matters such as this extremely seriously and anyone who does come forward should do so with confidence that they will be treated appropriately and with sensitivity.

"While we believe there was an investigation into allegations against Mr Smith in the late 1960s, no records are now held and it cannot be ascertained whether a file was passed to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

"These historic allegations date back more than 40 years and to a time when Rochdale was within the Lancashire Constabulary area. We have not received any new allegations at this stage."

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