Ex-male Model: My Nights With Jeremy (Press, 1 December 1978)

On 1 December 1978, in Minehead, England, Norman Scott, a 38-year-old former male model, testified in court, alleging he was seduced by former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe, who led the party from 1967 to 1976. Scott provided detailed evidence as a prosecution witness in a case determining whether Thorpe and three others should face trial for allegedly plotting to murder him to silence him about their past relationship. Scott, dressed sharply, recounted a tumultuous homosexual affair that began in 1960 after they met at a riding stable. Initially seeking Thorpe’s help after personal struggles, including a nervous breakdown, Scott described how their relationship developed. He recalled a night in November 1961 at Thorpe's mother’s home in Oxted, where they engaged in sexual activities after an intimate encounter in which Thorpe reassured him. Scott detailed multiple sexual encounters with Thorpe, including activities at his flat in Chelsea and a hotel bathroom, despite homosexuality being illegal in Britain at that time. Frequently, Thorpe would visit Scott under the pretense of companionship, but it would often lead to sexual relations. During their relationship, Scott recalled Thorpe affectionately calling him "Bunny". Scott revealed his emotional turmoil during their time together, describing moments of happiness mixed with distress. He recounted a specific incident when a policeman visited Thorpe's home while they were together, emphasising the secrecy surrounding their encounters. Scott expressed disdain for the sexual nature of their relationship, which he felt overshadowed their friendship. In a dramatic testimony, Scott recounted a tragic event in 1975, when a man, Andrew Newton, allegedly hired to kill him, shot his beloved dog. This event heightened his anguish, as he expressed feelings of despair and desperation linked to Thorpe. He described his tumultuous life and interactions, which led him to seek police intervention due to threats related to his relationship with Thorpe. Scott’s detailed account painted a picture not only of a controversial relationship with a high-profile politician but also of the emotional pain that ensued. His testimony played a crucial role in the court proceedings, as the magistrates considered the implications of the relationships and the serious accusations of a murder plot against him. Throughout this ordeal, Scott remained at the centre of a sensational case that intertwined themes of sexuality, power, and personal tragedy.

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