UK police launch sex offense investigation into children’s author and TV personality David Walliams

LONDON (AP) — London police said Friday that they are investigating children’s author and TV personality David Walliams for serious sexual offenses after news outlets reported that he used his fame to groom girls and young women for sex.The Metropolitan Police said it had received a number of allegations of past abuse following the joint investigation by ITV News and the Guardian newspaper.One woman said in the reports that she was sexually assaulted by Walliams at his London home when she was 15, while others accused him of grooming them when they were teens.Police are investigating different allegations than those reported by the news outlets, but said they will look into the news stories for any evidence of other crimes.Walliams, 55, has denied the allegations, saying he had not broken any laws and was not a sexual predator.“I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me,” Walliams said in writing to ITV and the Guardian.