Nexus of Nick: Graphic shows extraordinary links in catastrophic sex abuse ... trends now

A graphic today reveals the extraordinary list of police chiefs, journalists and political heavyweights who became caught up in a catastrophic child sex abuse probe into innocent VIPs. 

Operation Midland, launched in 2014, saw homes ransacked and reputations trashed on the bogus testimony of paedophile fantasist Carl Beech, who falsely claimed he was raped and abused by famous Westminster figures.  

But while he is now serving an 18-year sentence for his lies, almost every detective who believed and acted on his accounts - despite their apparent inconsistencies - has avoided being charged over their alleged failures. 

Former Met deputy assistant commissioner Steve Rodhouse, however, who led Operation Midland, will soon face gross misconduct proceedings over the bungled inquiry. 

But fury erupted yesterday when it emerged he would not be suspended from his current £200,000-a-year job as deputy head at the National Crime Agency (NCA). 

Among those falsely accused by Beech - initially referred to as 'Nick' to protect his identity - were Normandy veteran Field Marshal Lord Bramall, who has since died aged 95, the late Lord Brittan and former Tory MP Harvey Proctor.

Those he named as supposed 'abusers' also included former prime minister Sir Edward Heath, late Labour MP Greville Janner, disgraced TV star Jimmy Savile, and security chiefs Sir Michael Hanley and Sir Maurice Oldfield, who were the heads of MI5 and MI6 respectively.

Beech also met with two top BBC journalists before the broadcaster ran his story as headline news, while former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson publicly supported Beech, including by making baseless claims about a VIP sex abuse ring in the House of Commons. 

Operation Midland was launched in 2014, a year after Sir Keir Starmer, as Director of Public Prosecutions, authorised policy changes for dealing with sexual abuse cases which placed more emphasis on believing those making complaints.

The changes were designed to avoid missed opportunities to prosecute sex offenders in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal. 

As police investigated innocent Westminster grandees based on 'Nick's' bogus testimony, Detective Superintendent Kenny McDonald infamously described their star witness' outlandish claims as 'credible and true.'

'Nick' was later unmasked as paedophile Carl Beech and jailed for 18 years in 2019.

It comes as victims of Midland and former police chiefs have united to condemn the decision to keep Rodhouse in position as head of operations at the NCA - dubbed Britain's FBI - where he is at the forefront of the fight against international organised crime.

Their comments this week have piled pressure on the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman.

The agency is answerable to her and she has regular dealings with NCA director-general Graeme Biggar, Mr Rodhouse's immediate boss. Insiders told the Mail Mr Rodhouse had been moved to a 'back office' role at the NCA.