Some stories take years to tell.
Not because the facts aren’t there.
But because the people involved weren’t in a position to speak until now.
Seven women have spoken.
And what they’ve said about former West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has prompted one of the most significant investigative journalism pieces to emerge from British sport in years.
Seven women accuse David Sullivan of sexually exploitative behaviour
According to the BBC, multiple women have come forward to accuse Sullivan of abusing his power and preying on them for sex, in some cases when they were teenagers, in a joint investigation by BBC Panorama and The Times.
The allegations span decades, beginning in the 1980s.
All seven accusers were in their late teens or early twenties at the time.
Their accounts describe a pattern of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour.
Including pressuring women for sex during business meetings, and offering to advance their careers if they slept with him or performed sexual acts.
One of the women, gave particularly detailed testimony.
She said that at age 20, Sullivan told her during a business meeting at his home that she would become one of his newspapers’ “regular girls” if they had sex.
She tried to refuse, making excuses, but said he manoeuvred her into a bedroom and had sex with her despite her reluctance.
“He was taking advantage of young people,” said another of the accusers.
Two women said they felt they had no choice but to comply, fearing that refusing would damage their future prospects.
Sullivan, 77, categorically denied all of the allegations.
His lawyers described Florence’s account as implausible.
The investigation also revealed that Sullivan has separately admitted paying for sex in the 1990s with a girl who he says he believed was 16 or 17 years old at the time.
He was in his 40s.
It only became illegal to pay for sex with a 16 or 17 year old in 2003.
West Ham confirmed the club itself was not involved in any of the alleged conduct and stated that Sullivan had denied any illegal behaviour.
The club has since been relegated from the Premier League after finishing 18th in the 2025-26 season.
A damaging campaign that had already seen Sullivan face significant supporter protests.
But his timing made the reasons clear.
The investigation covers the period during which Sullivan built his fortune through pornography and eventually football.
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