Fantasist who invented claims of a VIP paedophile ring at Westminster set to have jail term cut by three years in Labour's sentencing review
Carl Beech, the fantasist who invented claims of a VIP paedophile ring at Westminster, could soon be freed from prison thanks to Labour's sentencing review.
The serial liar triggered a high-level investigation in 2014 into lurid allegations of child sexual abuse and murder involving politicians, generals and senior figures in the intelligence services.
Those falsely accused, including former home secretary Leon Brittan and retired field marshal Lord Bramall, had their properties raided, and one of them - ex-MP Harvey Proctor - lost both his home and his job.
Police only referred to Beech, a former NHS paediatric nurse, using the pseudonym 'Nick' to protect his identity.
His claims that he and others had been sexually abused by a 'VIP ring' in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and that he had witnessed three child murders by members of the same group, featured prominently on BBC News and other outlets.
The investigation - known as Operation Midland - cost £2.5m but by the time it was wound up, not one arrest had been made. The Met police force later had to apologise and pay compensation over its handling of the allegations.
After his arrest and trial, Beech was sentenced in July 2019 to eighteen years in prison. The sentence was made up of 16.5 years for fraud and perverting the course of justice and 18 months for possession of child pornography.
While his sentence for child abuse images is unaffected by the recent changes, the bulk of his sentence will be cut by as much as three years.
Under the sentencing policy of the Conservative Government he was due for release on 1 Oct 2027. Under changes announced last year by Labour that date was brought forward to 8 Feb 2026.
But under the latest proposals Beech, now 57, became eligible for early release on good behaviour on 11 Dec 2024.
Commenting on the prospect, former Tory MP Mr Proctor, the only direct living victim of the fraudster's lies, said: 'I'd very much regret Carl Beech being released early from his sentence. I think there must be some discretion, it shouldn't be automatic.
'Those who take this decision should take into account the extraordinary damage he did to a lot of people. The punishment needs to fit the crime.
'If he's released I hope he leads a productive life and rejects any attempt by publishers to write a book – that would be very aggravating to the families of those he falsely accused and to me.'
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