Outgoing West Ham Co-owner Accused of Sexual Harassment by Multiple Women

David Sullivan, the multi-millionaire businessman and outgoing co-owner of West Ham, is facing accusations of abuse of power and sexual harassment from seven women. These allegations, dating back to the 1980s, have come to light following a joint investigation by BBC Panorama and The Times newspaper.

The complaints stem from women who, in their late teens or early twenties, sought modeling work for Sullivan's newspapers, the Daily Sport and the Sunday Sport. They accuse the entrepreneur of predatory behavior and sexual exploitation, alleging he pressured them into sexual encounters during business meetings in exchange for career advancement.

Hours after the BBC and The Times confirmed the investigation's publication, Sullivan resigned on Saturday from his role as West Ham's deputy chairman. The 77-year-old stated his resignation aims to allow him to focus on combating what he described as "factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations about my personal life," labeling the investigation "fundamentally unfair." Sullivan "categorically" denies all accusations, which were not yet public at the time.

One of the women, using the pseudonym Florence, recounted feeling coerced into sexual relations with Sullivan against her will. According to her testimony, during a business meeting at his home, the businessman allegedly told her that if they had sex, she would become one of the "regular girls" in his newspapers. Florence, then 20, tried to make excuses, but claims he led her to a bedroom and initiated the act. Sullivan's lawyers deemed her account implausible.

Two other women stated they felt they had no choice but to comply to avoid harming their modeling careers, accusing Sullivan of abusing his power. "He took advantage of young people," one of them said. Another former model recounted that when she tried to leave a meeting after being harassed, she found the door locked, and Sullivan only let her out after she started raising her voice.

The investigation also reveals that Sullivan admitted to paying for sex in the 1990s with a girl he believed to be 16 or 17 years old. At the time, Sullivan was around 40. The act of paying for sex with minors under 16 or 17 was only criminalized in 2003 in the UK.

Most of the women chose to remain anonymous, fearing Sullivan and potential repercussions. Journalists corroborated their accounts through diaries, police records, and interviews with friends and family. It was also discovered that eight women had filed complaints about Sullivan's conduct with the Met or Essex Police, although the businessman was never formally charged.