Entertainer Freddie Starr will not be prosecuted over sex offence allegations because of "insufficient evidence" on most claims, prosecutors have said.
The Crown Prosecution Service said there was "a realistic prospect of conviction" in one case but it was not in the public interest to prosecute.
Mr Starr has been on bail since being arrested by Operation Yewtree officers.
Mr Starr's lawyer accused police of a "flagrant breach" of his client's human rights due to delays in the case.
Mr Starr was first questioned in November 2012, and has always denied any wrongdoing.
Baljit Ubhey, the Chief Crown Prosecutor of CPS London, said the case had been "carefully reviewed".
Complaints against Mr Starr had been made by 13 individuals, she said.
Continue reading the main story
image of Dominic Casciani Analysis Dominic Casciani Home affairs correspondent, BBC News
Why did the CPS decide that Freddie Starr should not face trial despite having sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of a conviction in relation to one complainant?
Prosecutors came to this conclusion after assessing the case against the "Full Code Test" - a set of rules used to work out which trials should go ahead.
There has never been a rule that every crime is automatically prosecuted because there are sometimes good reasons why someone should not end up in court.
So prosecutors consider questions including the seriousness of the case, the harm inflicted, the vulnerability and age of the victim and the nature of the offender.
For instance, some first-time offenders aren't prosecuted if the offence is minor and it's clear they will never break the law again.
Another factor is whether a prosecution could adversely affect the victim.
Read more from Dominic
The complainants have been told of the decision by the CPS, which "will be writing to them to more fully explain our decision".
Ms Ubhey added: "Each allegation was considered on its own merits and we have concluded that the available evidence does not offer a realistic prospect of conviction for any of the alleged offences.
"In relation to one further complainant, we have decided that although there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction, according to the Code for Crown Prosecutors, a prosecution would not be in the public interest."
The BBC understands prosecutors decided not to pursue a conviction on that charge because it was unlikely Mr Starr would be jailed if found guilty.
BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Dominic Casciani said there are a number of possible reasons prosecutors sometimes decide not to go to court despite believing they had enough evidence.
They include the seriousness of the crime, the harm inflicted and the possible impact a prosecution could have on the victim.
Ms Ubhey said: "It must be remembered that a determination by a prosecutor that there is sufficient evidence to prosecute under the Code does not mean that the suspect is guilty of the offence."
Operation Yewtree is an inquiry into allegations of historical sexual abuse linked to the entertainment industry.
It was launched in 2012 after it emerged the late BBC Radio One DJ and television presenter Jimmy Savile had abused hundreds of young people and children over more than five decades.
Source: BBC News - Freddie Starr will not be prosecuted, CPS confirms
The Crown Prosecution Service said there was "a realistic prospect of conviction" in one case but it was not in the public interest to prosecute.
Mr Starr has been on bail since being arrested by Operation Yewtree officers.
Mr Starr's lawyer accused police of a "flagrant breach" of his client's human rights due to delays in the case.
Mr Starr was first questioned in November 2012, and has always denied any wrongdoing.
Baljit Ubhey, the Chief Crown Prosecutor of CPS London, said the case had been "carefully reviewed".
Complaints against Mr Starr had been made by 13 individuals, she said.
Continue reading the main story
image of Dominic Casciani Analysis Dominic Casciani Home affairs correspondent, BBC News
Why did the CPS decide that Freddie Starr should not face trial despite having sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of a conviction in relation to one complainant?
Prosecutors came to this conclusion after assessing the case against the "Full Code Test" - a set of rules used to work out which trials should go ahead.
There has never been a rule that every crime is automatically prosecuted because there are sometimes good reasons why someone should not end up in court.
So prosecutors consider questions including the seriousness of the case, the harm inflicted, the vulnerability and age of the victim and the nature of the offender.
For instance, some first-time offenders aren't prosecuted if the offence is minor and it's clear they will never break the law again.
Another factor is whether a prosecution could adversely affect the victim.
Read more from Dominic
The complainants have been told of the decision by the CPS, which "will be writing to them to more fully explain our decision".
Ms Ubhey added: "Each allegation was considered on its own merits and we have concluded that the available evidence does not offer a realistic prospect of conviction for any of the alleged offences.
"In relation to one further complainant, we have decided that although there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction, according to the Code for Crown Prosecutors, a prosecution would not be in the public interest."
The BBC understands prosecutors decided not to pursue a conviction on that charge because it was unlikely Mr Starr would be jailed if found guilty.
BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Dominic Casciani said there are a number of possible reasons prosecutors sometimes decide not to go to court despite believing they had enough evidence.
They include the seriousness of the crime, the harm inflicted and the possible impact a prosecution could have on the victim.
Ms Ubhey said: "It must be remembered that a determination by a prosecutor that there is sufficient evidence to prosecute under the Code does not mean that the suspect is guilty of the offence."
Operation Yewtree is an inquiry into allegations of historical sexual abuse linked to the entertainment industry.
It was launched in 2012 after it emerged the late BBC Radio One DJ and television presenter Jimmy Savile had abused hundreds of young people and children over more than five decades.
Source: BBC News - Freddie Starr will not be prosecuted, CPS confirms
Last edited by a moderator:
