Essex Police are investigating new information provided to them about David Sullivan in the wake of Monday’s BBC-Times investigation into his past.The former West Ham United chairman was accused by the BBC and The Times of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour over several decades.The investigation, which centred on claims by seven women who were in their late teens or early twenties at the time of the alleged incidents, said Sullivan preyed on them for sex in return for advancing their modelling careers. Sullivan called the claims “factually inaccurate and entirely false” and has vowed to take legal action.The BBC and The Times reported that the 77-year-old was the subject of investigations by Essex Police, who arrested him in 2008, and London’s Metropolitan Police but no charges were brought in any of these cases.Since the allegations came to light on Monday, however, police confirmed they have opened more enquiries. “We have received some contact and enquiries into those are now underway,” an Essex Police spokesperson said in a statement to The Athletic.The historic claims about Sullivan were published two days after he resigned from his position as joint-chair of West Ham.The London club confirmed to The Athletic that they held talks with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy on Wednesday, after she had earlier called for “a full and urgent explanation … as to how these incredibly serious allegations have been handled”.West Ham, who also indicated that they will cooperate with any further enquiries from DCMS, said in a statement issued on Saturday that “none of the allegations relate to West Ham United or any of its operations”.Sullivan has been suspended from having contact with West Ham’s women’s and youth teams since 2023 after safeguarding concerns were raised over an incident which allegedly occurred in 1981. The Football Association began a safeguarding investigation in 2023, with Sullivan saying in a statement released on Wednesday that his suspension was a “meaningless restriction, as it didn’t impact on my work in any way, therefore I accepted it for a quiet life.”Sullivan, who was not suspended from interacting with the West Ham men’s team, denies the alleged 1981 incident ever took place.Jun 11, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms