Billionaire West Ham co-owner accused of abusing his power and preying on women for sex

Billionaire businessman David Sullivan, a co-owner of West Ham football club, is accused by multiple women of abusing his power and preying on them for sex, with some allegations dating back to the 1980s. The accusations stem from a joint investigation by BBC Panorama and The Times, involving seven women who were young models seeking careers in glamour.

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categorically denies the claims, which span the period when he made a fortune from pornography, newspapers and football. On Saturday, hours after BBC Panorama and the Times confirmed we would be publishing this investigation on Monday, he resigned as joint chair of West Ham. He said he wanted to focus on fighting what he called "factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life", describing the investigation as "fundamentally unfair".

These women allege sexually exploitative and predatory behavior, including pressure for sex during business meetings in exchange for career advancement. One woman, identified as Florence, stated she felt compelled to have sex with Sullivan, then in his 40s, even though she did not consent. Lawyers for Sullivan described her account as "implausible."

Sullivan, 77, has "categorically" denied all claims, asserting they are "factually incorrect and entirely false." He resigned as West Ham's joint chairman shortly before the investigation's publication, stating his intention to focus on combating these "decades-old allegations." He also described the investigation as "fundamentally unfair."

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He was taking advantage of young people

The report also reveals Sullivan admitted to paying for sex in the 1990s with a girl he believed to be 16 or 17 years old, an act that became illegal to pay for in 2003. The women accuse Sullivan of exploiting his position as a gatekeeper in the modeling industry, with some feeling they had no choice but to comply to avoid jeopardizing their careers. Concerns about potential repercussions and fear of Sullivan have led most of the women to seek anonymity.

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He had told her during a business meeting at his home that she would be one of his newspapers' "regular girls" if they had sex.