NIVEN SINCLAIR, THE GODALMING-BASED BBC CHAUFFEUR AND CONVICTED CHILD RAPIST, EXPOSED IN NEW SCANDAL
| Red Rose Database
Godalming Child Sexual Abuser
In a shocking revelation that has sent ripples through the media and the public alike, Niven James Sinclair, a man once celebrated for his long-standing association with the BBC, has been unmasked as a convicted child sex offender. Sinclair, who resided in Godalming, Surrey, and worked as a chauffeur for the British Broadcasting Corporation for nearly three decades, concealed a dark past marked by multiple convictions for heinous crimes against minors.
During his tenure, Sinclair was entrusted with transporting high-profile personalities, including the former Prime Minister Ted Heath. His role was not merely that of a driver; he was employed as a third-party contractor, supplying up to 150 vehicles to the BBC. His influence extended beyond driving, as he was known to attend BBC meetings and was involved with prominent programs such as Newsnight and Panorama. Despite his significant presence within the organization, Sinclair’s criminal history was not uncovered during the investigations conducted by Dame Janet Smith’s inquiry into the BBC’s handling of paedophile allegations following the Jimmy Savile scandal.
Sinclair’s employment with the broadcaster persisted until 2005, when he was 82 years old. At that time, his company was still providing 92 vehicles to the BBC. A profile published on the BBC’s official website in 2005, titled “A driving force behind BBC shows,” lauded his contributions, completely omitting any mention of his past crimes. This oversight has now come under scrutiny as new details emerge.
The extent of Sinclair’s criminal activities is deeply disturbing. He had a history of grooming young boys by paying them for odd jobs, only to later offer them wine and commit sexual assaults at his flat in Stanmore, North West London. His criminal record includes a six-month jail sentence in June 1961 for indecent assaults on two boys. Subsequently, in March 1966, he received a five-year sentence for buggery and indecent assault on a boy, along with a second indecent assault on a 12-year-old. His pattern of abuse continued, culminating in a 1971 conviction for buggery and sexual assault involving four boys aged between 13 and 14.
In addition to his sexual offenses, Sinclair admitted to possessing a Beretta pistol without a firearms certificate. During his trial, he was reported to have shown the weapon to at least one victim, threatening them with the words, “better get undressed or he would shoot.”
Today, Sinclair spoke from his home in Godalming, Surrey, to the Sunday People, attempting to justify his past. “I was contracted to the BBC via my company, I was never a direct employee so there was never any reason for them to check about my convictions,” he stated. He also claimed that his criminal history was a “very different chapter in my life” and suggested that his current notoriety was solely due to the Jimmy Savile scandal.
A BBC spokesperson responded to the revelations, stating, “The BBC has no dealings with Niven James Sinclair today. We are not aware of any complaint having been made to the BBC about him. We have robust child safety procedures.” However, they declined to comment on the procedures or vetting processes from over 40 years ago, specifically regarding Sinclair’s continued contracting with the BBC in 1977, despite his criminal convictions.
During his tenure, Sinclair was entrusted with transporting high-profile personalities, including the former Prime Minister Ted Heath. His role was not merely that of a driver; he was employed as a third-party contractor, supplying up to 150 vehicles to the BBC. His influence extended beyond driving, as he was known to attend BBC meetings and was involved with prominent programs such as Newsnight and Panorama. Despite his significant presence within the organization, Sinclair’s criminal history was not uncovered during the investigations conducted by Dame Janet Smith’s inquiry into the BBC’s handling of paedophile allegations following the Jimmy Savile scandal.
Sinclair’s employment with the broadcaster persisted until 2005, when he was 82 years old. At that time, his company was still providing 92 vehicles to the BBC. A profile published on the BBC’s official website in 2005, titled “A driving force behind BBC shows,” lauded his contributions, completely omitting any mention of his past crimes. This oversight has now come under scrutiny as new details emerge.
The extent of Sinclair’s criminal activities is deeply disturbing. He had a history of grooming young boys by paying them for odd jobs, only to later offer them wine and commit sexual assaults at his flat in Stanmore, North West London. His criminal record includes a six-month jail sentence in June 1961 for indecent assaults on two boys. Subsequently, in March 1966, he received a five-year sentence for buggery and indecent assault on a boy, along with a second indecent assault on a 12-year-old. His pattern of abuse continued, culminating in a 1971 conviction for buggery and sexual assault involving four boys aged between 13 and 14.
In addition to his sexual offenses, Sinclair admitted to possessing a Beretta pistol without a firearms certificate. During his trial, he was reported to have shown the weapon to at least one victim, threatening them with the words, “better get undressed or he would shoot.”
Today, Sinclair spoke from his home in Godalming, Surrey, to the Sunday People, attempting to justify his past. “I was contracted to the BBC via my company, I was never a direct employee so there was never any reason for them to check about my convictions,” he stated. He also claimed that his criminal history was a “very different chapter in my life” and suggested that his current notoriety was solely due to the Jimmy Savile scandal.
A BBC spokesperson responded to the revelations, stating, “The BBC has no dealings with Niven James Sinclair today. We are not aware of any complaint having been made to the BBC about him. We have robust child safety procedures.” However, they declined to comment on the procedures or vetting processes from over 40 years ago, specifically regarding Sinclair’s continued contracting with the BBC in 1977, despite his criminal convictions.