Stuart Hall quizzed on new sex abuse allegations

Stuart Hall is being questioned by detectives on suspicion of committing more historic sex offences (Reuters)

Disgraced broadcaster Stuart Hall is being questioned by detectives on suspicion of committing more historic sex offences.

Hall, 83, has been taken from prison where he is serving a 30-month jail term for sexually abusing 13 victims, one as young as nine, over a period of nearly 20 years.

The latest allegations relate to two alleged female victims aged between 12 and 15 at the time, said Lancashire Constabulary.

A police spokeswoman said: "This morning an 83-year-old man from Wilmslow in Cheshire was produced from prison and arrested by detectives on suspicion of a number of sexual offences.

"The allegations are historic and relate to two alleged female victims aged between 12 and 15 at the time. They allegedly took place in the Manchester and Derbyshire area between 1974 and 1980. We are not prepared to discuss further details at this stage.

"The man will be interviewed at a Lancashire police station during the course of the day.

"We take all allegations of sexual abuse extremely seriously. We would encourage people with any information about sexual abuse or who has been a victim of sexual abuse to come forward and report their concerns confident in the knowledge it will be investigated appropriately and with sensitivity."

Yesterday, it was confirmed the former It's A Knockout presenter had been stripped of his OBE for broadcasting and charity in the wake of his conviction for sex offences against children.

Hall was initially given a 15-month prison term at Preston Crown Court, but the Court of Appeal ruled that the sentence was "inadequate" and it was doubled in July.

In April, Hall, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, admitted 14 counts of indecent assault against girls aged between nine and 17 and a reporting ban on his pleas was lifted the following month.

Hall, whose full name is James Stuart Hall, said he had endured "a living nightmare" and, but for his "very loving family", may have considered taking his own life.

He was a familiar face and voice in British broadcasting for half a century, and his eccentric and erudite football match summaries made him a cult figure on BBC Radio 5 Live.

He also wrote a weekly sport column for the Radio Times magazine up until his arrest.

PA