LONDON (AP) — Seven women have come forward with accusations against David Sullivan. co-owner of west ham A BBC and London Times investigation on Monday said he had amassed a fortune by preying on people in the porn and media industry for sex.
The women alleged that Sullivan used his power to coerce young models seeking work in the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport newspapers, which published photos of topless and scantily clad women, to perform sex acts.
Although Sullivan denied the allegations through his lawyer, he resigned as co-chairman of East London Soccer Club on Saturday “to avoid any confusion,” the team announced.
Ms Sullivan said she became aware that “decades-old allegations about my personal life are going to be aired and published.”
One woman told BBC Panorama that she met Mr Sullivan at his residence in 1999 to discuss work and was told that if they had sex she would become his “regular woman”. The woman, who was 20 at the time, said she tried to refuse but was led into a bedroom and felt forced to have sex.
Sullivan’s lawyer said the scenario described was impossible.
The BBC said eight women, including one of the targets of the investigation, had reported Sullivan’s actions to police. He was never charged.
In a statement released by his team, Sullivan said he plans to sue the BBC and other media outlets for defamation.
Sullivan, 77, published pornographic magazines and films in the late 1970s and 1980s.
“I have spent my life building a business in the adult industry and have met thousands of women, but unfortunately it is inevitable that a small number of allegations of inappropriate conduct will be made against me. I categorically deny these allegations,” he said.
He said none of the allegations were related to his football ownership interests.
Sullivan began his involvement in football in 1993 when he bought Birmingham City. He left in 2009 and bought a stake in West Ham a year later.
west ham demoted From this season’s Premier League.
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