Police contacted with new information about ex-West Ham chair Sullivan

The billionaire businessman has "categorically denied" allegations dating back to the 1980s and 1990s that he engaged in sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour

>Police have been contacted with new information after historic allegations emerged about former West Ham United joint-chair David Sullivan.

>The 77-year-old businessman resigned on Saturday after he was "made aware of the impending publication of serious historic allegations" concerning him.

>Essex Police said on Thursday that the force had "received some contact and inquiries into those are now under way".

>On Monday, The Times and the BBC published the accounts of seven women who claimed Mr Sullivan engaged in sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour.

>Mr Sullivan, who made his fortune from owning pornographic magazines and sex shops, has dismissed the allegations as "entirely false".

>The accounts from the women date back to the 1980s and 1990s, when Ms Sullivan owned tabloid newspapers the Daily Sport and the Sunday Sport.

>The allegations against Mr Sullivan reportedly involve him pressuring young or aspiring models in their late teens or early 20s.

>The Metropolitan Police said officers were investigating a report relating to the "alleged taking of indecent images and sexual exploitation at locations in London and Essex in the 1980s".

>The force said this investigation related to one alleged victim and was being led by specialist detectives from the Met's rape and serious sexual offences team.

>When he announced his resignation from West Ham, Mr Sullivan said: "The false allegations levelled against me have been sensationalised by the media."

>He continued: "After a lifetime spent building businesses in the adult industry, in which I have met thousands of women, it is sadly inevitable that a small number of improper conduct claims are being made against me.

>He said stepping down from West Ham was an "incredibly painful decision to make, but it is one made out of love, respect and responsibility toward a football club and a fan base that deserve absolute unity and focus moving forward".

>His resignation came after a challenging season for the side, which saw them relegated from the Premier League last month after 14 years in the top flight.

>Mr Sullivan and business partner David Gold completed their takeover of West Ham in 2010 after selling Birmingham City.

>Mr Sullivan's net worth was estimated to be around £1.2bn in 2024, according to The Times Rich List.