POLICE in North Yorkshire were advised not to bring charges against Peter Jaconelli, it has emerged.

Information released under the Freedom Of Information Act this week showed the former Mayor of Scarborough was brought to the attention of police over the assault of a Spanish man more than 40 years ago.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Kennedy said the information originated from the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the predecessor to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), and "provided fresh opportunities to establish a fuller picture of Peter Jaconelli's alleged offending".

Mr Kennedy said: "With assistance from the CPS, it has been established that this archived record suggests the former DPP's Office received a police submission regarding Jaconelli on August 31, 1972, which was subsequently registered on September 4, 1972.

"The record indicates that the police force area which made the submission was at that time known as York and North East Yorkshire Police, which today is made up of three police force areas, namely North Yorkshire, Humberside and Cleveland Police.

"The submission related to an indecent assault on a Spanish man by the then 46-year-old Jaconelli, who is noted on the record as a councillor, member of the Scarborough Crime Prevention Committee and former Mayor of Scarborough. However, the record shows the former DPP's Office 'advised no action' against Jaconelli on October 10, 1972. The indication is that Jaconelli was not charged with an offence in relation to this submission."

Mr Kennedy said the information was "very limited", and work was ongoing to establish fuller facts "if at all possible" under Operation Hibiscus - the force's investigation into historic abuse by Jaconelli, Jimmy Savile and others.