A top policeman who led the hunt for missing chef Claudia Lawrence is to assist an investigation into shamed television star Jimmy Savile.
Retired Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway has been brought in by hospital bosses carrying out an inquiry into Savile’s activities in Leeds.
Until his retirement last month, Det Supt Galloway headed up North Yorkshire Police’s search for the missing York woman, who is believed to have been murdered.
Now Maggie Boyle, chief executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, has announced he will join their investigation team.
She told a meeting of hospitals trust directors: “We have appointed Ray Galloway to undertake the investigation and interview witnesses.”
Following hundreds of allegations of sexual abuse by Savile, who had a 40-year association with Leeds hospitals, a nationwide investigation looking into his involvement with the NHS was started by the Department of Health.
Miss Boyle and hospitals trust non-executive director Lynn Hagger met with the national inquiry head Kate Lampard last month.
“We informed her that we have now set up a local oversight panel, chaired by Lynn Hagger,” Miss Boyle said.
Professor Sue Proctor – former chief nurse for Yorkshire and the Humber – is leading the Leeds hospitals’ own investigation.
It was revealed in December that six people had contacted hospital bosses about incidents involving the former presenter.
A national report published by police last month showed at least 16 of Savile’s 200 attacks were carried out at LGI, where he worked as a volunteer porter.
The hospitals trust could eventually face compensation claims, as a lawyer representing more than 50 victims has already confirmed several claims relate to incidents in Leeds.
Mr Galloway, who retired on January 17, will assist the hospital trust’s investigation by interviewing witnesses.
The former detective spent 24 years with Merseyside Police before joining North Yorkshire Police in 2006.
He had masterminded the hunt for Claudia Lawrence since her disappearance in March 2009.
No trace of the 35-year-old has been found after she failed to arrive for her shift at the University of York.
Police are treating her disappearance as murder.
On his retirement Mr Galloway said his “fervent wish” was that the case would be resolved to bring some comfort to Miss Lawrence’s family.
North Yorkshire Police said they would continue the hunt for answers over the chef’s fate.
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