Mohamed Al Fayed's alleged victim 'shocked' by allegations of sex assault by 19 women

Mohamed Al Fayed is alleged to have carried out rapes and sexual assaults against former employees at Harrods during his ownership of the famous department store

One of Mohamed Al Fayed alleged victims has said she is “appalled” after it emerged he escaped justice despite 19 women accusing him of sex attacks.

They came forward to police between 2005 and 2023 but the billionaire was never even arrested over the claims before his death, aged 94, last year. The offences were said to have taken place over nearly a quarter of a century and include three allegations of rape, 15 sex assaults and one of trafficking.

A probe has now been launched to identify any potential living suspects who were linked to Al Fayed. Joan, not her real name, who accuses Al Fayed of sexual abuse and trafficking, said: “I am appalled but sadly not shocked by the news that the Met received reports from 19 women about rape, sexual assault and trafficking while Al Fayed was still alive and that still no prosecution against him was brought.

“It makes me wonder whether these were all considered in isolation or if any kind of weight was given to the fact that there were multiple allegations. This only strengthens my belief that there should be a statutory inquiry as soon as possible to look into the role of the police, as well as others, and whether they facilitated or enabled the decades of abuse committed by Al Fayed.”

Joan’s lawyer Emma Jones, a partner of law firm Leigh Day, said: “I am quite shocked by this. It seems to me there was no reason why the dots could not have been joined up when Al Fayed was alive. It makes one wonder in the face of that much evidence whether or not it was complete negligence I would change to incompetence or there was some form of cover up.”

Ms Jones called for a statutory public inquiry to examine the case.to try to find the answers about which it was – incompetence or cover up She said: “There are questions that the survivors need to have answered and should have answered.” Joan has also instructed US law firm Motley Rice to investigate her legal claim.

The Met said a “full review of all existing allegations” against Al Fayed, which date between 1979 and 2013, is being carried out to ensure there are “no new lines of inquiry based on new information which has emerged”.

Though it is not possible to charge someone who has died, the force said “we must ensure we fully explore whether any other individuals could be pursued for any criminal offences”. Despite having been contacted by 19 victims, the Met only asked the Crown Prosecution Service to consider charges on two occasions, in 2008 and 2015.

No further action was taken against Al Fayed in respect of each of the 19 complaints. Commander Stephen Clayman said: “We recognise the significance of the allegations made against Mohamed Al Fayed and the impact this has had on those affected.

“It is vital that any victims have a voice and are able to report any allegations if they have not done so before, and know that they will be taken seriously. We have specialist teams to ensure all those victims who make contact with us are supported in the best way possible.

“I understand that for many years many people have sought answers in relation to this case. We will do everything possible to update on our progress when we can, but it is crucial we do this thoroughly and we do it right.”

Many of the women approached police after 2012, when the Met promised to improve their sex abuse investigations in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal. The former Jim’ll Fix It presenter, who died the year before having also dodged justice, was later revealed to be one of the UK’s most prolific sex offenders.

Officers are in the process of contacting lawyers and other organisations with knowledge of the case. Al Fayed was pictured in a £7,000 car he donated to the Met Police in 1996, a year after sex claims against him were first made public.

The smiling Harrods boss became the “first businessman to sponsor” the force, raising questions about whether the Met investigated Al Fayed “without fear or favour” when his alleged victims came forward. Tom Bower’s 1998 book “Fayed: The Unauthorised Biography” revealed how his former head of security, former Met chief John Macnamara, cultivated important Yard contacts for his boss, calling in favours from officers he and his security team drank with.

At higher levels, officers would be wined and dined, given hospitality and showered with gifts, including Christmas hampers, Mr Bower wrote. Dinner guests would routinely be given bottles of whisky while senior officers were given jumbo gift bags for their families.

One officer was said to be supplied with his favourite ties, courtesy of the security department. It comes as a woman said on Thursday that Al fayed raped her when she was 16.

Kate - not her real name - said she had never had sex when the late Harrods owner attacked her in his Park Lane flat soon after she began working for him. Like many of his alleged victims, Kate said Al Fayed had previously required her to have an invasive examination by a company doctor for sexually transmitted diseases.

She came forward in the wake of a BBC documentary alleging the tycoon sexually assaulted and raped them. Kate said she had recently started working at Harrods when Al Fayed summoned her to his apartment.

Inside the Park Lane flat, “he tried to pressure me into having sex with him,” Kate said. “He tried to be charming… but I kept saying no.” Kate says the Harrods owner’s mood darkened and began to threaten her.

“He became angry, the doors were locked and I couldn’t get out. He raped me.” Kate said she had previously been the subject of an examination by one of Al Fayed’s doctors. “It was organised for me to see Dr Ann Coxon of Harley Street for a company medical,” Kate said. “It was sold to me as a perk of working in the chairman’s office.”

Dr Coxon has denied any wrongdoing. The current boss of Harrods apologised on Thursday and said the business “failed our colleagues”.

Michael Ward said in a statement that it is clear Al Fayed “presided over a toxic culture of secrecy, intimidation, fear of repercussion and sexual misconduct”. Mr Ward, who worked for Al Fayed for four years, said he was “not aware of his criminality and abuse” and described it as a “shameful period in the business’ history”.

A CPS spokesperson said: “It is very concerning to hear of so many women coming forward with a series of very disturbing allegations against Mr Al-Fayed. We are working to build a full picture around these serious allegations and want to reassure the public that alongside our criminal justice system partners, we are determined to secure justice in as many rape and serious sexual offences as possible.”