Seven women have accused West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan of sexually exploitative and predatory behavior, alleging that he used his influence in the glamour modelling industry to pressure young women into sex.
The women were reportedly in their late teens or early twenties and seeking modelling opportunities with Sullivan’s Daily and Sunday Sport newspapers.
The women alleged that Sullivan used promises of modelling work and career advancement to obtain sex or oral sex.
One of the women, identified as Florence, alleged that she met Sullivan at his Essex home in 1999 after being invited to what she believed was a business meeting.
She said Sullivan told her: “You’ll be in all the magazines. I can give you covers; I can give you centerfolds, and you’ll be one of my Sport girls.”
According to Florence, she tried to avoid the situation by telling him that her boyfriend was waiting outside. She alleged that Sullivan replied: “It will only take a minute, and he never has to know.”
Florence said she also told him she was on her period. She alleged that Sullivan responded: “It’s all right, I’ll only put it in a little bit.
According to Florence, Sullivan then had sex with her despite her not wanting the encounter. She said he later told her: “Congratulations, you will be one of our new Sport girls and you’re going to get lots of work.”
Reflecting on the experience, Florence said: “He took away my innocence… I was very suicidal for many years. Up until very recently, I struggled with my mental health.”
Lawyers representing Sullivan described Florence’s account as implausible. Sullivan has denied the allegation.
Another woman, identified as Rebecca, alleged that she was introduced to Sullivan through a modelling agent in 1998 after being promised a successful modelling career.
Rebecca said the agent told her: “Just go in there and just do what he says.” She alleged that Sullivan later assured her: “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you,” before having sex with her.
According to Rebecca, Sullivan subsequently said: “I’ll sort it out for you to go in the paper, don’t worry about that.”
She said the experience marked “the start of a lonely, degrading, dark time” in her life and accused Sullivan of preying on vulnerable young women.
Another woman, identified as Mia, alleged that she attended a meeting at Sullivan’s home believing it concerned modelling opportunities with the Sport newspapers.
She said Sullivan expected sex and that she felt unable to refuse because she feared it would affect her prospects in the industry. Mia said: “It shouldn’t have happened. “He was taking advantage of young people.”
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Anna, who said she was 17 when she entered a Sport modelling competition in the 1990s, alleged that Sullivan approached her during an industry event and offered to make her a star if she performed oral sex on him.
She said: “This is while my mums in the same room, so I’m glad I didn’t go on my own because God knows what would have happened if I had.”
Another former model, Wendy, alleged that Sullivan told her during a meeting in the 1980s: “If you want to get anywhere in this industry you need to sleep with me.”
She said she rejected the suggestion, recalling: “I just remember thinking, ‘well, if I’ve got to sleep with you then I’d rather not get anywhere.’”
A former teenage model identified as Beth alleged that she was sent alone to meet Sullivan at his home, where she found him in bed wearing a dressing gown.
Looking back on the experience, she said: “God, that was such a vulnerable position that I put myself in as a young girl. “Beth added: “The men had the power, didn’t they?”
Another woman, Sacha Wall, alleged that she attended what she believed would be a business meeting in 1998 but later discovered it was being held at Sullivan’s private residence.
According to Wall, Sullivan told her a well-known glamour model was one of his “special friends” and suggested she could receive similar support if she also became “one of his special friends”.
Wall said she rejected the suggestion, telling him: “If you think I’m going to sleep with you to get in the paper, you’ve got another thing coming.”
She alleged that Sullivan responded: “What, not even a blow job?” According to Wall, she later discovered the room door was locked when she attempted to leave.
She said: “I was really scared.” Wall alleged that Sullivan then shouted: “You’re going about it the hard way” before unlocking the door.
The investigation reported that eight women have made disclosures to either the Metropolitan Police or Essex Police regarding Sullivan’s conduct.
However, he has never been charged in relation to any of the allegations. Essex Police said it had reviewed a number of cases and found insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges.
The force added that allegations involving violence against women and girls are treated seriously. The Metropolitan Police also said it takes such allegations “extremely seriously”. The allegations have also attracted the attention of football authorities.
The Independent Football Regulator confirmed it is seeking information relating to Sullivan under its owners, directors and senior executives’ regime.
Sullivan stepped down as West Ham’s joint chairman on Saturday, shortly before publication of the investigation.
In a statement announcing his resignation, he said he wanted to focus on fighting what he described as “factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life”. He also described the investigation as “fundamentally unfair”.
Sullivan said: “After a lifetime spent building businesses in the adult industry in which I have met thousands of women, it is sadly inevitable that a small number of improper
conduct claims are being made against me.”
He further described the allegations as false and said he was “absolutely not the person the media has decided to paint me as”. Sullivan said he plans to sue the BBC.
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