BRITAIN: Television presenter Matthew Kelly spoke of his relief yesterday after police ruled out further action over an allegation that he sexually abused a young boy.
Detectives said they were taking no further action over the allegation, which dated back to the 1970s, but the TV host was cautioned after cocaine was found during a search of his London home. Despite the drugs find, Granada - which makes Kelly's show Stars In Their Eyes - and ITV said he would return to the screen and his admission that he had used cocaine would have "no bearing" on his future.
Mr Kelly had stood aside for three celebrity versions of the show which were presented by Davina McCall while the investigation was carried out.
But in a statement yesterday Granada and ITV said: "Now that this matter has been resolved we look forward to him returning in the forthcoming series of Stars in Their Eyes and the live final."
Police sources said Mr Kelly's high profile had been taken into account when a decision was taken to caution rather than charge him over possession of cocaine, but they denied he had been made a special case.
One in four people found in possession of Class A drugs in Surrey over the last year have received a caution rather than being charged. It was decided the TV host fitted into that category because charging him would have had a "disproportionate" effect on his career.
Mr Kelly received his caution at Staines police station, west London, where he was also offered drug counselling by police. After emerging from the station he made an emotional statement, which he said "came from the heart".
He said: "I was always confident my name would be cleared in due course. However, it has been a very anxious and upsetting time for me and my family.".
Mr Kelly said the Class A drug found at his home had been for his own "personal and occasional use" and he recognised using it was "both illegal and foolish".
He said: "I want to apologise to my family and members of the public who may feel let down."
The TV host also thanked fans and friends - who included names like Julie Walters, Pete Postlethwaite and Alan Rickman - for their backing. "It has been a tremendous comfort to know that people care," he said. Mr Kelly was arrested on January 15th in his dressing room after appearing as Captain Hook in a pantomime in Birmingham. The allegation against him was connected to Operation Arundel, the inquiry which led to the jailing of pop mogul Jonathan King. When questioned by police over the sex abuse claim, Mr Kelly always emphatically denied any wrongdoing.