Repairmen Found Thorpe, Scott Papers In Hidden... (Press, 8 December 1978)

On 8 December 1978, during a court hearing in Minehead, it was revealed that builders refurbishing an office in London had uncovered a hidden cupboard containing documents connecting former Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe to Norman Scott, a former male model who claims they were once lovers. Thorpe, 49, along with three co-defendants, faces conspiracy charges for allegedly plotting to murder Scott. The prosecution, led by Mr Peter Taylor, indicated that Thorpe feared damage to his political career due to Scott's claims about their relationship, which allegedly began in 1961. The court heard that a close friend of Thorpe, Peter Bessell, had been asked to manage the situation concerning Scott. Bessell had previously paid Scott a retainer amidst claims that Scott had been contacting Thorpe's elderly mother, Ursula Thorpe, with allegations regarding Thorpe’s sexuality. Following Bessell's relocation to the United States in 1974 after a business failure, the builders discovered a black document case in the office during renovations, leading to the current trial's proceedings. Among the materials in the hidden case were letters, account books, and cheque stubs, some of which were directly related to Thorpe. Notably, one letter from Scott to Mrs Ursula Thorpe was included. The builders, who found the case, later sold the letters to the "Sunday Mirror” for £200. The publication stated its legal department retains copies of these documents which were sent to Thorpe. The charges against Thorpe and the co-defendants arise from an alleged attempt to have Scott killed. An airline pilot, identified as Andrew Newton, was purportedly hired to carry out the act but failed to do so, instead accidentally shooting Scott's Great Dane in October 1975. Transcripts of taped conversations involving some of the accused were presented in court, displaying interactions that raised further questions about the plot. One conversation was reportedly between Newton and David Holmes, a banker and one of the co-defendants. They discussed media inquiries and potential police interviews, with Holmes expressing concern over the implications of their conversations. Another recording implicated John le Mesurier, a carpet dealer, in the payment of £5,000 to Newton, indicating a conspiracy to silence Scott. A witness, Colin Lambert, a former soldier, testified that le Mesurier had confessed to him about the pay-off for the attempted murder, further complicating the case against Thorpe and his associates. Lambert denounced any involvement in violence, asserting his innocence and distancing himself from the actions of others involved in the conspiracy. The court continued to deliberate on whether Thorpe and his co-defendants should stand trial for the conspiracy charges.

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