A BBC investigation has revealed that nearly 90 flights linked to Jeffrey Epstein arrived at or departed from UK airports. Some of these flights reportedly had British women on board who have since stated they were abused by the billionaire.
Key Findings on UK Flights
- Three British women, who state they were trafficked, appear in Epstein's flight records and other documents related to his movements in and out of the UK.
- US lawyers representing hundreds of Epstein victims have indicated that a comprehensive UK investigation into his activities has not occurred, despite assertions that the UK was central to his operations.
- One British victim, referred to as 'Kate' during the 2021 trial, provided testimony that contributed to the conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell for child sex-trafficking in the US. 'Kate' was recorded on over ten Epstein-funded flights to and from the UK between 1999 and 2006. Her Florida-based lawyer, Brad Edwards, confirmed she has not been contacted by UK police regarding her experiences.
Documents and Investigation Details
Thousands of documents from court cases and Epstein's estate have been made public over the past year, including flight logs. These releases coincide with the deadline for the US government to release all files under the Jeffrey Epstein Transparency Act.
The BBC's examination of these documents identified:
- 87 flights linked to Epstein in and out of UK airports from the early 1990s to 2018. This number is higher than previously known.
- Flight logs and manifests listed unidentified "females" among passengers on UK-bound and UK-departing flights.
- Fifteen of the UK-related flights occurred after Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting sex from a minor.
Legal experts consulted by the BBC suggest that a UK investigation could potentially identify individuals based in Britain who may have facilitated Epstein's crimes.
Law Enforcement Response
The BBC provided the Metropolitan Police with information regarding the UK flights and questions about a potential investigation into British victims. The Met did not provide specific responses to the questions but issued a statement on Saturday.
- The Met's statement indicated that it had "not received any additional evidence that would support reopening the investigation" into Epstein and Maxwell's trafficking activities in the UK.
- The statement added that should "new and relevant information" become available, including from US document releases, it would be assessed.
Sigrid McCawley, a US lawyer representing many Epstein victims, criticized the Met's position.
Victim Accounts and Travel Patterns
Brad Edwards stated that three to four of his British clients reported abuse on British soil by Epstein and others. Other clients were reportedly recruited in the UK, trafficked to the US, and abused there. He also represents women of other nationalities who state they were trafficked to the UK for abuse.
Epstein utilized commercial, chartered, and private flights for his travel and to arrange transport for others, including alleged trafficking victims.
- Over 50 flights involved his private jets, primarily to and from Luton Airport, with additional flights at Birmingham International Airport, RAF Marham, and Edinburgh Airport.
- Commercial and chartered flights predominantly used London Heathrow, Stansted, and Gatwick.
- Some private jet logs for UK trips listed women only as "unnamed females."
Ms. McCawley suggested Epstein selected airports for ease of entry and exit with victims. Private aircraft were not required to provide passenger details to UK authorities in the same manner as commercial flights until April of last year.
'Kate' testified in court that she was 17 when Ghislaine Maxwell introduced her to Epstein, who then sexually abused her at Maxwell's central London residence. She described Maxwell providing her with a schoolgirl outfit and requesting she find other girls for Epstein. Beyond the UK flights, 'Kate' also reported being flown to Epstein's island in the US Virgin Islands, New York, and Palm Beach, Florida, where she states the abuse continued into her 30s.
Mr. Edwards confirmed that 'Kate' has not been contacted by UK authorities since her testimony but would cooperate with an investigation.
Professor Bridgette Carr, a human-trafficking expert, emphasized that trafficking cases often involve multiple individuals, including those in professional roles, who may implicitly or explicitly tolerate the activities.
Post-Conviction Travel and Immigration
Questions have been raised regarding Epstein's ability to travel freely to the UK after his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for sex. This conviction required him to register as a sex offender in multiple US jurisdictions. Epstein was released from prison in 2009 after serving 13 months. Records suggest he took a Virgin Atlantic flight to London Heathrow in September 2010, two months after completing probation.
- Home Office rules at the time generally mandated refusal of entry for foreign nationals with prison sentences of 12 months or more.
- However, US citizens typically did not require a UK visa for short stays, meaning there was no application process to disclose criminal convictions. Entry decisions were largely at the discretion of individual immigration officers.
- The Home Office states it does not retain immigration and visa records beyond 10 years and does not comment on individual cases.
In the 1980s, Epstein also reportedly used an Austrian passport with a false name to enter the UK, France, Spain, and Saudi Arabia. He also listed London as his residence in 1985 when applying for a replacement passport.
Previous Met Investigations
The Met previously reviewed allegations in 2015 by Virginia Giuffre, who stated she was trafficked by Epstein and Maxwell and forced to have sex with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at Maxwell's London home in 2001 when she was 17. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied these allegations.
- The Met concluded that its examination of Ms. Giuffre's claims "did not result in any allegation of criminal conduct against any UK-based nationals."
- It determined that "other international authorities were best placed to progress these allegations."
- This decision was reviewed in August 2019, 2021, and 2022, with the same outcome.
Sigrid McCawley asserted that the Met's approach conveys to victims that reporting powerful individuals may not lead to an investigation.