Latest news with #WestHeathSchool
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Disgraced Harrods owner Mohamed al Fayed 'bought Princess Diana's old school to groom and rape underage girls', new book claims
Princess Diana 's old school to groom and rape underage girls, a new book has claimed. A former teacher at West Heath School in Kent, England, has revealed how the disgraced businessman bought the school on the promise to protect Diana's legacy - but instead used it to prey on vulnerable school pupils. The former owner of Harrods, who died in 2023 aged 94, raped one school girl, caused the suicide of another, and even fathered a baby with one underage pupil, the bombshell book alleges. In an extract from The Monster Of Harrods seen by The Sun, author Alison Kervin reveals how the depraved Egyptian business mogul targeted vulnerable school girls as well as young players at Fulham FC. Just a year after the death of the Princess of Wales in May 1998, al Fayed bought West Heath School which was teetering on the brink of financial collapse, under the guise of protecting a place which had been so special to the late royal. The Monster Of Harrods alleges that the businessman would regularly wander around the school unaccompanied, chatting to underage pupils. A former teacher revealed his visits always seemed inappropriate and 'creepy'. The former teacher explained he believed al Fayed was grooming the pupils and said he would promise them careers after they had finished and shower them with gifts from Harrods. The former owner of Fulham FC would also allegedly give girls lifts in his Rolls Royce and invite them to his house. He said: 'He shouldn't have been there. Benefactor or not, a man of that age should not be mixing with young girls, offering them lifts in his and chauffeur-driven limo, and buying them presents before inviting them to his house. How is any of that appropriate?'. The tell-all book also claims that one pupil was attacked by al Fayed in a bathroom, ripping her clothes and hurting her after inviting her to Harrods. A former pupil described how her friend was terrified to share what had happened to her: 'He told her that her parents would be told about how she had behaved and all the school would know that she was the one who had closed the school down. She was terrified - she felt like she was to blame, and nothing I said would calm her down.' Author Ms Kervin alleges that the brutal businessman threatened to close the school if the pupil reported him and refused to go to the police or to lawyers until the litany sexual abuse was revealed following his death. The former pupil said she was also aware of at least one other pupil who was raped by the predator and another who gave birth to a secret child. She also believes one woman committed suicide because of her experience with al Fayed. The school told The Sun: 'We do not tolerate abuse or harassment in any form.' In September 2024, in response to the BBC documentary Al Fayed: Predator At Harrods, they commented: 'We have no further information other than what is currently in the news.' And his abuse did not end with the Princess Diana's former school. A former soccer player for the Fulham Women's team al Fayed set up revealed she was humiliated and sexually harassed by the club owner. In The Monster Of Harrods, she alleges that she was desperate to become a footballer and took al Fayed at his word when he promised to help her make the team. She described sharing her hopes with the businessman who offered to speak with her privately in his apartment. But when she arrived, she claimed the conversation was centered around whether she had a boyfriend and if she had lost her virginity. When conversation did turn to football, the promising player said she was asked to show off her legs and despite feeling uncomfortable, took off her tracksuit bottoms at which point al Fayed tried to reach out and touch her. She said he also asked her to take off her underwear but he felt uncomfortable and ran for the door only to find it locked. She said she repeatedly banged on the door while al Fayed laughed at her. After her experience she said she fell out of love with the game and eventually left the club. And the aspiring player was one of several who experienced harassment and abuse at the hands of the al Fayed and despite them all reporting it to the police, they say nothing ever came of it. Mohamed al Fayed was hit with an avalanche of rape and assault claims after at least two former Harrods workers told a BBC documentary they had been raped or molested by the Egyptian tycoon. Meanwhile last year, London's Metropolitan Police revealed they were investigating 40 new allegations against al Fayed and others since the BBC documentary. The 40 new allegations related to 40 alleged victims and were in addition to allegations police were aware of before the BBC's investigation and documentary, Scotland Yard said. Prior to recent media coverage, 21 allegations were made against the late billionaire which resulted in crimes being recorded relating to 21 separate women between 2005 and 2023. The Met has now widened its investigation to look at associates who may have assisted and facilitated the abuse - meaning criminal charges could still be on the cards even though the direct perpetrators have died. It comes as a survivors group Justice for Harrods Survivors says it has 'credible evidence' suggesting the sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated at Harrods and the billionaire's properties 'was not limited to Mr al Fayed himself'.
Telegraph
31-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Fayed ‘bought Diana's old school to groom and rape girls'
Mohamed al-Fayed raped and sexually assaulted girls at Princess Diana's old boarding school, it has been claimed. A former teacher has alleged the former Harrods owner bought West Heath School in Sevenoaks, Kent as a way of grooming young pupils. Fayed, who died in 2023 aged 94, is said to have raped a girl, caused the suicide of another and fathered a baby with an under-age pupil, according to another former staff member at West Heath. The tycoon purchased Diana's old school for £2,300,000 in May 1998, almost a year after she died in a car crash in Paris alongside his son, Dodi, with whom she had been having a relationship. Fayed, who also owned Fulham FC, said at the time that he wanted to protect the school where the Princess said she had enjoyed some of the happiest times of her life. But a former teacher has now alleged that Fayed used his ownership of the independent school as an opportunity to meet young girls and invite them to his home and workplace to exploit them. James (not his real name), told The Sun: 'Fayed would come to the school sometimes and it would be the big Mohamed show, like when he came with celebrities. He brought Madonna in 2010. 'But there were other times when he'd come to just stroll in alone and start talking to the girls. 'I always thought it was creepy and odd. I know that's easy to say in hindsight, but I did. 'No one seemed to stop him because he'd saved the school from closing. He was free to wander around and do whatever he liked. 'I never thought that was right. I thought the headmistress should have been walking round with him, but she might not even have realised that he was there.' A woman who worked at the school has claimed one pupil at West Heath, which was an all-girls boarding school when the Princess attended, but now caters for both girls and boys whose mainstream education has broken down, told her of an attack by Fayed. The woman, named only as Jessica, told Alison Kervin, the author of a new book about Fayed: 'I couldn't get her to go to the police, and she refused to tell anyone at the school but me. I guess that because I wasn't part of the teaching staff, she felt safer telling me. She was nervous and crying. 'Fayed had invited her to Harrods and attacked her in the boardroom. He didn't manage to rape her, but he tore her clothes and he hurt her. She kicked him and he slapped her and called her an ungrateful animal. 'He said that he would pull the money out of the school and close it down if she said anything. She was terrified. She felt like she was to blame, and nothing I said would calm her down.' Jessica alleges she has also been made aware of other girls who were attacked by Fayed and at least one who was raped. She has reported her findings to her lawyers and plans to contact the Harrods Survivors support group on their behalf. 'When I spoke to lawyers, they put me on to some lawyers working with a lot of the victims, and they were already aware of the claims. They said they had been contacted by girls at the school and by the relatives of one girl who had committed suicide,' she told Kervin, the author of The Monster of Harrods. Jessica added: 'The family are convinced it was because of what she went through with Fayed. I know they are also investigating that he fathered a love child with an under-age girl.' More than 100 women accuse tycoon More than 100 alleged victims have contacted police to say they were sexually abused by the tycoon. The youngest is thought to have been 13 at the time. A number of allegations were made against Fayed while he was still alive. Investigators twice sent files for a charging decision to the Crown Prosecution Service – in 2008 relating to three victims and in 2015 linked to one other. On another three occasions – in 2018, 2021 and 2023 – the CPS was asked for what is called early investigative advice, but the matters were not pursued further by police. Asked if he suspected Fayed was trying to recruit girls at West Heath, James said: 'There's no question that he was. I know he told girls he could get them jobs and he'd give them things from Harrods. 'He invited a couple of the girls to his house. I spoke to another teacher and we went to talk to a senior member of staff about it. They said that it was fine and we shouldn't worry, but it wasn't fine. 'He shouldn't have been there. Benefactor or not, a man of that age should not be mixing with young girls, offering them lifts in his Rolls-Royce and buying them presents before inviting them to his house.' The teacher said that when details of Fayed's predatory behaviour first emerged he 'literally punched the wall in anger and frustration', adding: 'I should have done more.' West Heath School says on its website that it is sponsored by the Alfayed Charitable Foundation. This is overseen by Fayed's widow Heini Wathen-Fayed, his son Omar and daughter Camilla. The school describes itself as 'a living memorial to the life and work of its most famous former pupil Diana, Princess of Wales, who spent many happy days here'. In a statement, it said: 'We have no further information other than what is currently in the news. We do not tolerate abuse or harassment in any form.'
Daily Mail
31-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Disgraced businessman and sex attacker Mohamed al Fayed 'bought Princess Diana's old school to groom and rape underage girls', sensational new book on dead monster claims
Mohamed al Fayed bought Princess Diana 's old school to groom and rape underage girls, a new book has claimed. A former teacher at West Heath School in Sevenoaks, Kent has revealed how the disgraced businessman bought the school on the promise to protect Diana's legacy but instead used it to prey on vulnerable school pupils. The former owner of Harrods, who died in 2023 aged 94, raped one school girl, caused the suicide of another and even fathered a baby with one underage pupil, the bombshell book alleges. In an extract from The Monster Of Harrods seen by The Sun, author Alison Kervin reveals how the depraved Egyptian business mogul targeted vulnerable school girls as well as young players at Fulham FC. Just a year after the death of the Princess of Wales in May 1998, al Fayed bought West Heath School which was teetering on the brink of financial collapse, under the guise of protecting a place which had been so special to the late royal. The Monster Of Harrods alleged that the businessman would regularly wander around the school unaccompanied, chatting to underage pupils and a former teacher revealed his visits always seemed inappropriate and 'creepy'. The former teacher explained he believed al Fayed was grooming the pupils and said he would promise them careers after they had finished and shower them with gifts from Harrods. The former owner of Fulham FC would also allegedly give girls lifts in his Rolls Royce and invite them to his house. Mohamed al Fayed (pictured in 2007) bought Princess Diana 's old school to groom and rape underage girls, a new book has claimed. He said: 'He shouldn't have been there. Benefactor or not, a man of that age should not be mixing with young girls, offering them lifts in his and chauffeur-driven limo, and buying them presents before inviting them to his house. How is any of that appropriate?'. The tell-all book also claims that one pupil was attacked by al Fayed in a bathroom, ripping her clothes and hurting her after inviting her to Harrods. A former pupil described how her friend was terrified to share what had happened to her: 'He told her that her parents would be told about how she had behaved and all the school would know that she was the one who had closed the school down. She was terrified - she felt like she was to blame, and nothing I said would calm her down.' Author Ms Kervin alleges that the brutal businessman threatened to close the school if the pupil reported him and refused to go to the police or to lawyers until the litany sexual abuse was revealed following his death. The former pupil said she was also aware of at least one other pupil who was raped by the predator and another who gave birth to a secret child. She also believes one woman committed suicide because of her experience with al Fayed. The school told The Sun: 'We do not tolerate abuse or harassment in any form.' In Sepetember 2024, in response to the BBC documentary Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods they commented: 'We have no further information other than what is currently in the news.' And his abuse did not end with the Princess Diana's former school. A former footballer for the Fulham Women's team al Fayed set up revealed she was humiliated and sexually harassed by the club owner. In The Monster Of Harrods, she alleges that she was desperate to become a footballer and took al Fayed at his word when he promised to help her make the team. She described sharing her hopes with the businessman who offered to speak with her privately in his apartment. But when she arrived, she claimed the conversation was centred around whether she had a boyfriend and if she had lost her virginity. When conversation did turn to football, the promising player said she was asked to show off her legs and despite feeling uncomfortable, took off her tracksuit bottoms at which point al Fayed tried to reach out and touch her. She said he also asked her to take off her underwear but he felt uncomfortable and ran for the door only to find it locked. She said she repeatedly banged on the door while al Fayed laughed at her. After her experience she said she fell out of love with the game and eventually left the club. And the aspiring player was one of several who experienced harassment and abuse at the hands of the al Fayed and despite them all reporting it to the police, they say nothing ever came of it. Mohamed al Fayed was hit with an avalanche of rape and assault claims after at least two former Harrods workers told a BBC documentary they had been raped or molested by the Egyptian tycoon. Meanwhile last year, the Met Police revealed they were investigating 40 new allegations against al Fayed and others since the BBC documentary. The 40 new allegations related to 40 alleged victims and were in addition to allegations police were aware of before the BBC's investigation and documentary, Scotland Yard said. Prior to recent media coverage, 21 allegations were made against the late billionaire which resulted in crimes being recorded relating to 21 separate women between 2005 and 2023. The Met has now widened its investigation to look at associates who may have assisted and facilitated the abuse - meaning criminal charges could still be on the cards even though the direct perpetrators have died. It comes as a survivors group Justice for Harrods Survivors says it has 'credible evidence' suggesting the sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated at Harrods and the billionaire's properties 'was not limited to Mr al Fayed himself'.
Scottish Sun
30-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
How sick Mohamed Fayed bought Princess Di's old school to ‘groom & rape underage girls' in Savile-style sex abuse scheme
In an exclusive extract from The Monster Of Harrods, author Alison Kervin tells how the monster Harrods boss targeted school kids and young women at Fulham FC PREDATOR Mohamed Fayed raped and sexually assaulted girls at Princess Diana's old boarding school, a new book alleges. A former teacher tells how the ex-Harrods owner bought West Heath School in Sevenoaks, Kent, then used it to groom pupils. 6 The Monster Of Harrods claims ex-Harrods owner Mohamed Fayed bought Princess Diana's boarding school to rape and sexually assault girls Credit: Getty 6 When all the information about Fayed's sex crimes came out after his death, a former teacher at West Heath School said he 'punched the wall' and wished he done more Credit: Alamy One-time Fulham FC proprietor Fayed, who died in 2023 aged 94, is said to have raped a girl, caused the suicide of another and fathered a baby with an under-age pupil. Here, in an exclusive extract from The Monster Of Harrods, author Alison Kervin tells how depraved Fayed targeted school children as well as young women at Fulham FC. MOHAMED FAYED bought the Princess of Wales's old school in May 1998, almost a year after her death in Paris. His rationale was to protect the place where Diana had enjoyed herself (she had described it as the happiest time of her life). James (not his real name), a former teacher at the school, says: 'Fayed would come to the school sometimes and it would be the big Mohamed show, like when he came with celebrities (he brought Madonna in 2010). 'But there were other times when he'd come to just stroll in alone and start talking to the girls. 'I always thought it was creepy and odd. I know that's easy to say in hindsight, but I did. 'No one seemed to stop him because he'd saved the school from closing. He was free to wander around and do whatever he liked. 'I never thought that was right. 'I thought the head-mistress should have been walking round with him, but she might not even have realised that he was there. 'I'm haunted by what I saw' Al Fayed's security chief sheds new light on vile abuse of female staff 'He seemed to be able to turn up unannounced. Even parents aren't allowed to walk in and walk around.' I ask James whether he suspected that Fayed was trying to recruit girls. 'There's no question that he was. I know he told girls he could get them jobs and he'd give them things from Harrods. 'He invited a couple of the girls to his house. I spoke to another teacher and we went to talk to a senior member of staff about it. They said that it was fine and we shouldn't worry, but it wasn't fine. 'I knew it wasn't. I carried on worrying about it. 'He shouldn't have been there. Benefactor or not, a man of that age should not be mixing with young girls, offering them lifts in his Rolls-Royce and chauffeur-driven limo, and buying them presents before inviting them to his house. How is any of that appropriate?' 'She was terrified' When all the damning information about Fayed's sex crimes came out after his death, James says he 'literally punched the wall in anger and frustration', adding: 'I should have done more.' James put me in touch with a woman who worked at the school, but not as a teacher. Jessica (not her real name) says she knows of a girl who was abused by Fayed while attending West Heath School. Jessica tells me: 'I couldn't get her to go to the police, and she refused to tell anyone at the school but me. 'I guess that because I wasn't part of the teaching staff, she felt safer telling me. She was nervous and crying. 'Fayed had invited her to Harrods and attacked her in the boardroom. 'He didn't manage to rape her, but he tore her clothes and he hurt her. She kicked him and he slapped her and called her an ungrateful animal. 'He said that he would pull the money out of the school and close it down if she said anything. 'He told her that her parents would be told about how she had behaved and all the school would know that she was the one who had closed the school down. She was terrified — she felt like she was to blame, and nothing I said would calm her down.' 6 Mohamed Fayed would turn up at the school with celebrities, like Madonna in 2010 Credit: Alamy 6 Diana as a schoolgirl in 1970 Credit: PA:Press Association Jessica says that she has been made aware of other girls who were attacked by Fayed and at least one who was raped. She reported her findings to her lawyers and plans to contact the Harrods Survivors support group on their behalf. 'When I spoke to lawyers, they put me on to some lawyers working with a lot of the victims, and they were already aware of the claims. They said they had been contacted by girls at the school and by the relatives of one girl who had committed suicide. 'The family are convinced it was because of what she went through with Fayed. I know they are also investigating that he fathered a love child with an under-age girl. I don't know any more details. 'I don't work at the school any more, and I'm glad Fayed is dead.' In a statement, West Heath School said: 'We do not tolerate abuse or harassment in any form.' On May 29, 1997, Fayed stood in the middle of the pitch at his newly purchased trophy, Fulham Football Club, wrapped in the team's scarf, and announced: 'I have a football club.' Amanda (not her real name) was on the fringes of the Fulham women's team and keen to become the best player she could be. 'Women's football was growing,' she says, 'and Fayed had become a bit of a hero by setting up the first professional women's side.' Fayed invited [a schoolgirl ] to Harrods and attacked her. He didn't manage to rape her, but he tore her clothes and he hurt her. He said he'd pull money out of the school if she said anything Amanda was still at school while training at Craven Cottage. She says she told her mum that Fayed would be visiting the training ground and her mum said: 'Be nice to him — make sure you stand out from the crowd.' When Fayed walked in, Amanda says that the place went quiet and everyone stopped what they were doing. She was nervous but remembered her mum's words, so she bounded up to him, put out her hand to shake his hand, and said, 'Hello, I'm Amanda and I'm hoping to get into the first team soon.' Little did she know that this was manna from heaven for Fayed — a pretty young woman who wanted something that he could get for her. 'Ran for the door' 'He came over to me later and invited me to come to his apartment to discuss my role at Fulham and whether he could help me to make it into the first team. 'I was so excited. He told me that someone from the club would drive me in, and he'd make sure I got home safely. 'When I got to his apartment he didn't even mention football. All he wanted to know was whether I had a boyfriend, had I lost my virginity, had I ever kissed a man? 'He was sitting right next to me and had his hand on my thigh, stroking my leg as we talked. 'He said I had good legs and they'd be perfect for football. He asked me to show them to him.' He [Fayed] asked me to bend over, and he told me to take my knickers off. I realised that was all wrong and ran for the door Amanda was wearing her tracksuit and had no desire to remove the trousers. She remembers she felt awkward and confused. 'I can get you a place in the team,' Fayed told her. 'I own the club, I can do whatever I like. 'I need to see your legs to see whether they're strong enough.' Amanda took down her tracksuit trousers and says that Fayed then became like an animal, reaching out to try to touch her. 'He asked me to bend over, and he told me to take my knickers off. I realised that was all wrong and ran for the door, but my tracksuit bottoms were round my ankles and I was struggling to pull them up while running. 'I got to the door and it was locked. I banged and banged on it with all my might. I'd just about got my trousers pulled up when I heard a voice on the other side, so I screamed and kicked at the door. 'I was sure Fayed was going to come running after me but he stayed in his seat, laughing at me. The door opened and I ran out. 'I didn't stay in football long after that . . . it didn't hold anything like the same joy for me. 'I stopped going to training and slowly drifted away from the club.' 6 One-time Fulham FC proprietor Fayed, who died in 2023 aged 94 Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd Amanda says of reporting the incident to the police: 'I tried, but they weren't really interested, so I left the police station.' Three of the Fulham players I have interviewed also went to the police to report Fayed, but nothing ever happened. One other story that arose after I talked to players at Fulham concerns Kevin Keegan, the former Liverpool, Hamburg and England star, who was brought in to coach the Fulham men's team. Keegan left Fulham when he became England manager in 1999, citing the difficulties of coaching club and country at the same time. Fayed said he would let Keegan go because he was a patriot. 'I've given you my Keegan,' he quipped at the time, 'Now can I have my British passport?' But there are stories that the situation was much more complicated than that. Apparently Fayed and Keegan fell out because the fax machine that Fayed had given to Keegan for home use when he started at the club had stopped working. Rather than call the club, Keegan went to a local repair centre, where a bugging device was found in the machine. Once Keegan realised that Fayed possessed the ability to listen in on everything he and others said within the safety of his home, he decided to quit. Keegan could not be reached for comment. The Monster Of Harrods: Al-Fayed And The Secret, Shameful History Of A British Institution, by Alison Kervin (Harper Collins), is on sale on Thursday.
The Sun
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
How sick Mohamed Fayed bought Princess Di's old school to ‘groom & rape underage girls' in Savile-style sex abuse scheme
PREDATOR Mohamed Fayed raped and sexually assaulted girls at Princess Diana's old boarding school, a new book alleges. A former teacher tells how the ex-Harrods owner bought West Heath School in Sevenoaks, Kent, then used it to groom pupils. 6 6 One-time Fulham FC proprietor Fayed, who died in 2023 aged 94, is said to have raped a girl, caused the suicide of another and fathered a baby with an under-age pupil. Here, in an exclusive extract from The Monster Of Harrods, author Alison Kervin tells how depraved Fayed targeted school children as well as young women at Fulham FC. MOHAMED FAYED bought the Princess of Wales's old school in May 1998, almost a year after her death in Paris. His rationale was to protect the place where Diana had enjoyed herself (she had described it as the happiest time of her life). James (not his real name), a former teacher at the school, says: 'Fayed would come to the school sometimes and it would be the big Mohamed show, like when he came with celebrities (he brought Madonna in 2010). 'But there were other times when he'd come to just stroll in alone and start talking to the girls. 'I always thought it was creepy and odd. I know that's easy to say in hindsight, but I did. 'No one seemed to stop him because he'd saved the school from closing. He was free to wander around and do whatever he liked. 'I never thought that was right. 'I thought the head-mistress should have been walking round with him, but she might not even have realised that he was there. 'He seemed to be able to turn up unannounced. Even parents aren't allowed to walk in and walk around.' I ask James whether he suspected that Fayed was trying to recruit girls. 'There's no question that he was. I know he told girls he could get them jobs and he'd give them things from Harrods. 'He invited a couple of the girls to his house. I spoke to another teacher and we went to talk to a senior member of staff about it. They said that it was fine and we shouldn't worry, but it wasn't fine. 'I knew it wasn't. I carried on worrying about it. 'He shouldn't have been there. Benefactor or not, a man of that age should not be mixing with young girls, offering them lifts in his Rolls-Royce and chauffeur-driven limo, and buying them presents before inviting them to his house. How is any of that appropriate?' 'She was terrified' When all the damning information about Fayed's sex crimes came out after his death, James says he 'literally punched the wall in anger and frustration', adding: 'I should have done more.' James put me in touch with a woman who worked at the school, but not as a teacher. Jessica (not her real name) says she knows of a girl who was abused by Fayed while attending West Heath School. Jessica tells me: 'I couldn't get her to go to the police, and she refused to tell anyone at the school but me. 'I guess that because I wasn't part of the teaching staff, she felt safer telling me. She was nervous and crying. 'Fayed had invited her to Harrods and attacked her in the boardroom. 'He didn't manage to rape her, but he tore her clothes and he hurt her. She kicked him and he slapped her and called her an ungrateful animal. 'He said that he would pull the money out of the school and close it down if she said anything. 'He told her that her parents would be told about how she had behaved and all the school would know that she was the one who had closed the school down. She was terrified — she felt like she was to blame, and nothing I said would calm her down.' 6 6 Jessica says that she has been made aware of other girls who were attacked by Fayed and at least one who was raped. She reported her findings to her lawyers and plans to contact the Harrods Survivors support group on their behalf. 'When I spoke to lawyers, they put me on to some lawyers working with a lot of the victims, and they were already aware of the claims. They said they had been contacted by girls at the school and by the relatives of one girl who had committed suicide. 'The family are convinced it was because of what she went through with Fayed. I know they are also investigating that he fathered a love child with an under-age girl. I don't know any more details. 'I don't work at the school any more, and I'm glad Fayed is dead.' In a statement, West Heath School said: 'We do not tolerate abuse or harassment in any form.' On May 29, 1997, Fayed stood in the middle of the pitch at his newly purchased trophy, Fulham Football Club, wrapped in the team's scarf, and announced: 'I have a football club.' Amanda (not her real name) was on the fringes of the Fulham women's team and keen to become the best player she could be. 'Women's football was growing,' she says, 'and Fayed had become a bit of a hero by setting up the first professional women's side.' Fayed invited [a schoolgirl ] to Harrods and attacked her. He didn't manage to rape her, but he tore her clothes and he hurt her. He said he'd pull money out of the school if she said anything Amanda was still at school while training at Craven Cottage. She says she told her mum that Fayed would be visiting the training ground and her mum said: 'Be nice to him — make sure you stand out from the crowd.' When Fayed walked in, Amanda says that the place went quiet and everyone stopped what they were doing. She was nervous but remembered her mum's words, so she bounded up to him, put out her hand to shake his hand, and said, 'Hello, I'm Amanda and I'm hoping to get into the first team soon.' Little did she know that this was manna from heaven for Fayed — a pretty young woman who wanted something that he could get for her. 'Ran for the door' 'He came over to me later and invited me to come to his apartment to discuss my role at Fulham and whether he could help me to make it into the first team. 'I was so excited. He told me that someone from the club would drive me in, and he'd make sure I got home safely. 'When I got to his apartment he didn't even mention football. All he wanted to know was whether I had a boyfriend, had I lost my virginity, had I ever kissed a man? 'He was sitting right next to me and had his hand on my thigh, stroking my leg as we talked. 'He said I had good legs and they'd be perfect for football. He asked me to show them to him.' He [Fayed] asked me to bend over, and he told me to take my knickers off. I realised that was all wrong and ran for the door Amanda was wearing her tracksuit and had no desire to remove the trousers. She remembers she felt awkward and confused. 'I can get you a place in the team,' Fayed told her. 'I own the club, I can do whatever I like. 'I need to see your legs to see whether they're strong enough.' Amanda took down her tracksuit trousers and says that Fayed then became like an animal, reaching out to try to touch her. 'He asked me to bend over, and he told me to take my knickers off. I realised that was all wrong and ran for the door, but my tracksuit bottoms were round my ankles and I was struggling to pull them up while running. 'I got to the door and it was locked. I banged and banged on it with all my might. I'd just about got my trousers pulled up when I heard a voice on the other side, so I screamed and kicked at the door. 'I was sure Fayed was going to come running after me but he stayed in his seat, laughing at me. The door opened and I ran out. 'I didn't stay in football long after that . . . it didn't hold anything like the same joy for me. 'I stopped going to training and slowly drifted away from the club.' 6 Amanda says of reporting the incident to the police: 'I tried, but they weren't really interested, so I left the police station.' Three of the Fulham players I have interviewed also went to the police to report Fayed, but nothing ever happened. One other story that arose after I talked to players at Fulham concerns Kevin Keegan, the former Liverpool, Hamburg and England star, who was brought in to coach the Fulham men's team. Keegan left Fulham when he became England manager in 1999, citing the difficulties of coaching club and country at the same time. Fayed said he would let Keegan go because he was a patriot. 'I've given you my Keegan,' he quipped at the time, 'Now can I have my British passport?' But there are stories that the situation was much more complicated than that. Apparently Fayed and Keegan fell out because the fax machine that Fayed had given to Keegan for home use when he started at the club had stopped working. Rather than call the club, Keegan went to a local repair centre, where a bugging device was found in the machine. Once Keegan realised that Fayed possessed the ability to listen in on everything he and others said within the safety of his home, he decided to quit. Keegan could not be reached for comment. The Monster Of Harrods: Al-Fayed And The Secret, Shameful History Of A British Institution, by Alison Kervin (Harper Collins), is on sale on Thursday. 6
