AS more allegations surface day by day regarding the serial abuse carried out by Jimmy Savile over a 50 year period, the central question of how his activities remained unchallenged will no doubt lead to conspiracy theories. One recent contributor cited Savile’s friendship with Mrs Thatcher (HAS, Oct 15).

The reasons abusers of this type often escape prosecution have nothing to do with such flights of fancy. Savile’s success in evading prosecution can be more rationally explained.

For example, many of his victims appear to have been adolescent females, often vulnerable, from hospitals or special schools.

Historically such victims felt powerless to complain and, if they did, were not believed, either by family or authorities.

Savile’s powerful public persona of a benevolent, if somewhat eccentric, philanthropist meant challenges were always going to be difficult to sustain In addition, a typical serial abuser is clever enough to ensure his activities are unobserved and uncorroborated sexual allegations are always difficult to prosecute in any event.

Observed from the historical context of the 1970s and 1980s, when so called “inappropriate”

behaviour was often tolerated by authorities rather than investigated, one can see how Savile and others were able to get away with serial abuse.

Staff at Stoke Mandeville hospital, where Savile volunteered, allegedly advised children to stay in bed and pretend to be asleep when he was on the ward.

That says it all.

John Crick, Bishop Auckland.