DAVID SULLIVAN: What has been the fallout of the BBC Panorama and The Times investigation into the former West Ham Joint Chair a week on?

A WEEK ago today BBC Panorama and The Times published and broadcast the results of a two-year investigation into what was said to be the "behaviour" of former West Ham United Joint Chair David Sullivan.

The 77-year-old former pornographer had resigned just two days earlier ahead of the revelations in order to fight what he described as "false, libellous and sensationalist allegations".

In the end, the allegations turned out to be more issues of morality and potentially "abuse of position" rather than anything criminal.

Read our review of the allegations here.

Essentially, it was said that Mr Sullivan would invite young women, including some aged 16 and over, for one-to-one casting couch interviews mainly at his Essex mansion in Theydon Bois.

The women in question were seeking roles as topless models in his tawdry "newspapers" the Sunday Sport and Daily Sport which featured pages of glamour models from their launches in 1986 and 1991 respectively and amusing stories such as "Bus found at South Pole."

The allegations are that Mr Sullivan would seek sex acts from the women in return for better employment prospects.

Some declined and it was left at that, while others allegedly entered into such arrangements, it was claimed.

In hindsight, these sorts of meetings may have been more appropriate with some form of chaperone in the room at the same time.

Mr Sullivan has denied any wrongdoing and suggested he will sue the newspaper and broadcaster. You can read his statement in full in this report.

So what has been the fallout, if any following the investigation?

It emerged that Essex Police had taken no further action after investigating a number of historical allegations said to relate to a total of eight complainants.

Regarding these police enquiries, in June 2024 an Essex Police spokesperson told UK News and Investigations: “Essex police received a number of allegations relating to non-recent sexual offences. Our specialist officers carried out an investigation and obtained accounts from victims.

"Following consultation with the CPS and acting on advice received from them, we have taken the decision that no further action will be taken in relation to a number of the allegations. One investigation remains ongoing and will be subject of further enquiries.”

Then in February this year the same force said the investigation into the allegation from the remaining complainant had also been dropped with no further action.

The force said: "Essex police received a number of allegations relating to non-recent sexual offences.“Tackling violence against women and girls is a key focus for Essex Police and we take allegations of this nature very seriously.

“Our specialist officers, who specifically investigate non-recent sexual offences, carried out a thorough and extensive investigation including obtaining accounts from those affected.

“Early investigative advice was sought from the CPS, but following a thorough investigation Essex Police took the decision that no further action would be taken in relation to these allegations."

The Essex Police investigation had been referred to it by the Met Police.

The allegations started in 2021 when two women came forward to the Met Police.

The case is understood to have been passed to Essex Police due to the locations of some of the alleged offences being in Essex.

The force did not appear to find any criminal acts as, after seeking early advice from the CPS the cases were dropped.

A CPS source said: "We gave early investigative advice (to Essex Police on these cases) in 2021 and 2023, however were not asked to review a full file for charging."

Although the BBC has since reported that the force has received some contact regarding some of the allegations since the broadcast and this is being "reviewed."

It also emerged that the Met Police has been investigating one allegation concerning one complainant since November 2025.

The force said it was making "initial enquiries" into allegations of the taking of indecent images and sexual exploitation in connection with Mr Sullivan dating back to the 1980s.

Enquiries are understood to have begun in November 2025 after one woman came forward to make allegations of offences taking place in Essex and London.

A Met Police spokesperson said: "In November, police received a report relating to the alleged taking of indecent images and sexual exploitation at locations in London and Essex in the 1980s.

"Initial enquiries are being carried out. No arrests have been made. It relates to one complainant."

The force has not named Mr Sullivan in connection with its comments.

Asked if there had been any further contact since the broadcast, the Met said: "We will not be giving a running commentary or providing specifics on the number of reports received.

"If there are any significant operational developments we will let you know."

It has also emerged that the Football Association (FA) had opened a safeguarding investigation into Mr Sullivan in 2023.

The Safeguarding Agreement: Consequently, a safeguarding group comprised of the FA, West Ham, and local authorities had quietly banned Mr Sullivan from any face-to-face contact with the club's women's and youth academy teams for three years.

He has downplayed this, calling it a "meaningless restriction" he accepted purely for "a quiet life" while a historical complaint was evaluated.

The recently established Independent Football Regulator (IFR) has launched a review using its statutory powers to assess Mr Sullivan's suitability as a club owner under its "honesty and integrity" assessments.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has also stepped in, demanding a full and urgent explanation from the Football Association (FA) regarding what it knew about the historical allegations and why no broader disciplinary actions were taken back in 2023 when the youth team restrictions were first imposed.

Former West Ham vice-chair Baroness Brady, 57, who resigned from the club in April, five games before the end of the season, "to focus on The Lords and TV" has admitted to knowing Mr Sullivan was banned from contacting the women's and youth teams because of safeguarding concerns.

She defended continuing to work for him for three years after this.

She is best known for her role on BBC One's The Apprentice and has worked with Mr Sullivan for about four decades after being involved in advertising at the Sunday Sport, with 16 years at West Ham.

Baroness Brady has been a member of the House of Lords since 2014.

Brady's lawyers said she was not involved in the decision made by West Ham in conjunction with the local authority and the FA to impose restrictions on Sullivan's access to the club's women's and youth teams.

They said she relied "on the principle of presumption of innocence in continuing to work at the club".

On Saturday, June 13, Vanessa Gold and Daniel Křetínský, representing the Gold family and 1890 Holdings, at the club, issued this joint statement: “We were deeply concerned by the revelations made by The Times and Panorama this week and our thoughts go out to those women who have fought so hard to make their voices heard. Any abuse of power is abhorrent, and it takes great courage and determination to speak up against it.

“The full West Ham United Board was not notified about these allegations against David Sullivan until approximately a month ago, when he informed us that certain allegations against him may be published. However, the full details of the allegations, which Mr Sullivan denies, only became apparent when they were made public on Monday (8 June). In addition, as communicated by West Ham United, the Board representatives of Shareholders other than Mr Sullivan were only made aware this week of the safeguarding measures that have been in place since 2023.

Former Page 3 Girl Sacha Wall (above) told Panorama Mr Sullivan asked for a sex act during an interview but she still got work after declining, but was not one of his "special girls".

“As Shareholders and Directors of est Ham, our focus is now firmly on protecting the future of this Football Club. Our goal is to stabilise West Ham United, retain as many of our key players as possible and, under the management of Nuno Espírito Santo, secure an immediate return to the Premier League. We are also committed to engaging with our fans and all business partners to build a stronger future for our Club. We have already taken concrete steps toward this goal.

“As such, we have reached agreement on the key terms of a share purchase transaction between the Gold family and 1890 Holdings, which, subject to other Shareholders’ pre-emption rights and necessary approvals, would make 1890 Holdings (part of the broader group EP) the largest Shareholder in West Ham with an approximately 43% stake. As the largest Shareholder, group EP will be able to provide the additional financing the Club needs.

“We expect to finalise this transaction in the next couple of weeks. Once the agreement is complete, group EP and the Gold family have also agreed to vote jointly on key matters and to support the strategy targeting an immediate return to the Premier League.

“Alongside Daniel Křetínský and Vanessa Gold, the other Shareholders, namely Tripp Smith, Daniel Harris and Terry Brown, are fully aligned on this strategy and stabilising the Club.

“We are taking these steps because West Ham United needs to be truly united at this moment in its history. We believe that a strong coalition – of fans, players, management and the Board – is essential to securing the bright future this Club deserves. We are absolutely committed to playing our part.”