Ex-newspaper tycoon Eddy Shah has denied having sex with an underage prostitute – but admitted sleeping with the girl’s MUM.
The hotels entrepreneur, 67, was quizzed by detectives on Tuesday over claims he slept with the girl in 1990s when she was 15.
He is alleged to be one of four men who had sex with her after she was forced into prostitution by her mother.
But yesterday he denied sleeping with the girl – now in her 20s – but admitted romping with her mother while unaware she was a prostitute.
The businessman confessed to a two-year relationship with the mother.
Speaking at his country mansion in Kington Langley, Wilts., he said: ”The allegations are not true and are vehemently denied.
”I have not been charged with any offence, neither have I ever known or met any of the other people who have been arrested.
”I do accept that I had consensual sex with her mother at the time, but her mother has made no complaint; nor could she.
”I had a relationship with her for two or three years, she turned out to be a prostitute but that didn’t bother me because that was just me at the time.
”I met the daughter twice, both times for advice on something and I never had sex with the daughter. She said she was 17 but that was neither here or there because I didn’t.”
Shah launched the failed Today newspaper in 1986 but now runs hotels, leisure centres and golf clubs.
He was arrested at his home on Tuesday morning and taken for questioning at nearby Melksham Police Station, where he was bailed in the evening.
Four others were also arrested – the mother aged 51, from Kent, two men from Kent aged 51 and 63 and a man from East Sussex aged 62.
Mr Shah said he expects to be questioned again over allegations, which relate to 1992 and 1993. He has been bailed until mid-January.
He added: ”My name’s been dragged in and I’ve gone along and answered all the questions.
”The others who have been arrested are all close to each other I assume. I have not met any of them ever apart from the mother.
”They will probably want to question me again. I don’t know how they prove something that happened 20 years ago.
”I’ve seen the list of hotels I’ve meant to have been at and two of them I never ever went to and I’m sure they can check things like that.
”It’s just an unfortunate thing. I was bailed last night and there were no charges.”
A spokesman for the Met said: ”On 20 September, officers from the Metropolitan Police Service arrested five people in connection with historical allegations of offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956.
”All were interviewed at local police stations and subsequently bailed to return on various dates in mid-January 2012, pending further enquiries.
”All of the alleged offences occurred before 2003.”
Mr Shah now owns The Wiltshire Hotel, Golf and Country Club, near Wootton Bassett.
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