Greville Janner invited me to sauna.

A Jewish historian gave evidence to police investigating allegations of sexual abuse against the late Lord Janner, it has emerged.

Gavin Littaur, a 66-year-old postal expert, was questioned by Leicestershire Police about a brief encounter he had with Greville Janner during the 1970s.

Mr Littaur wrote to the JC after reading an interview with Lord Janner's son, Daniel Janner QC, who suggested that the case against his father was backed by people who are "driven by claiming compensation".

When Lord Janner died last December, aged 87, he was facing a criminal hearing, accused of 22 charges involving 13 complainants between 1963 and 1988. A growing number of them have launched civil cases seeking damages from his £2 million estate.

While Mr Littaur, from Hendon, north-west London, does not claim to have been abused by Lord Janner, he recalled being propositioned by him during his early twenties. The politician was a close friend of Mr Littaur's parents and had been invited to the family home for dinner.

I thought it was right for me to approach the police

Mr Littaur said: "He was very charming, articulate and clever. While my parents cleared up, they said 'go and look after Greville in the lounge'.

"He was asking me about my life and what I did. I was asking him about the Jewish community and the law. We were chatting away and he seemed pleasant and talkative. But then very smoothly - as smooth as silk - he said 'would you like to come back to join me for a sauna?'"

Mr Littaur, who is heterosexual, unequivocally rejected the offer and immediately excused himself. When he told his parents, his mother was "very jumpy", but his father "was faintly amused".

While nothing further occurred, Mr Littaur said he had "absolutely no question" about the "improper and inappropriate suggestion" which left him feeling "imposed upon".

The two men never crossed paths again.

But Mr Littaur contacted police last year when he read about the accusations against Lord Janner.

"I believe bad things happen when good people stay silent, so on balance I thought it right to approach the police. I thought it was so long ago and they would think nothing of it."

Their response, however, surprised him. Two officers travelled from Leicester to spend two hours interviewing Mr Littaur.

They said his story "tied in" with the accounts of others. He has had no further involvement with the inquiry, but contacted the JC after reading Mr Janner's comments about those claiming to have been abused.

Mr Littaur: "I don't like aspersions cast on myself and possibly other people and I thought I should speak up.

"I have no agenda and no axe to grind - I just want the truth to come out, whatever the truth is."

Lord Janner's family have repeatedly denied he was engaged in any wrongdoing.

http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/162354/greville-janner-invited-me-sauna

Greville Janner: more alleged victims cleared to testify at sex abuse inquiry.

The independent inquiry examining sexual abuse claims against Greville Janner will hear testimony from a further six alleged victims, it was confirmed today.

Previously, the number of people understood to be alleging they had been sexually assaulted by the former Labour MP for Leicester West stood at 27.

However, the further six 'complainants' were granted core participant status by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, (IICSA).

Core participants will deliver their testimonies to the inquiry and be granted special rights, such as receiving documents, making legal submissions, suggesting questions and receiving advance notice of the inquiry's report.

That means a total of 33 alleged victims will testify they were alleged by the Labour politician.

According to documents released by the IICSA today, most allege abuse took place when they were living in children's homes.

Their lawyer said all six had contacted Leicestershire Police in the past but their allegations had not resulted in criminal charges against the politician.

The force and the Crown Prosecution Service were later criticised for not putting the politician on trial when he was alive and well.

The veteran Labour politician – who was accused of 22 sexual offences against boys between 1963 and 1988 – died, aged 87, shortly before Christmas.

His death ended the prospect of his alleged victims' evidence ever being tested in a criminal court.

The veteran politician's family says he was innocent of any wrongdoing.

The IICSA was created by the Government to ask whether efforts to try the former Labour MP for Leicester West for alleged child abuse when he was alive and well were "hindered or prevented" by public authorities.

The inquiry, which is conducting a number of separate investigations into alleged sexual abuse by people in positions of power, will issue a "finding of facts" report at its conclusion.

Leicestershire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service will be asked why the politician was not charged with offences against children when he was alive and well and what was known about his alleged sexual interest in children.

Leicestershire County Council, which was responsible for children's home in which abuse allegedly took place, is also to be asked to account for its actions.

Liz Dux, specialist abuse lawyer at Slater and Gordon who represents 16 of Lord Janner's alleged victims, including the six new complainants, said: "This is not a case of new alleged victims coming forward, but more those who have already made allegations of serious sexual assault wanting to have their evidence heard by the inquiry after suffering in silence and being ignored for so long.

"As a result we welcome them being made core participants."

Earlier this month Professor Alexis Jay replaced New Zealander judge Justice Dame Lowell Goddard, who stood down from the post of chairman of the inquiry.

Prof Jay led the groundbreaking public inquiry which uncovered the sexual exploitation of 1,400 young women in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, between 1997 and 2013.

Read more at http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/greville-janner-more-alleged-victims-cleared-to-testify-at-sex-abuse-inquiry/story-29643973-detail/story.html#V7Y4vrbO8wMZmhS8.99