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Former BBC broadcaster and teacher Simon Warr, who was found to be innocent after being falsely accused of sexual abuse, has died.
Mr Warr, 65, who announced in a sad message on Thursday that he was quitting Twitter and ‘unlikely to return’, died after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.
He was the headmaster on the Channel 4 series That’ll Teach ‘Em but his life fell apart in 2012 when he was accused of sex abuse by a boy he had never met.
After being found innocent of the claims, Mr Warr went on to make a name for himself as a campaigner against false sexual allegations and wrongful convictions and wrote a book, Presumed Guilty, about his ordeal.
Former BBC broadcaster and teacher Simon Warr, who was found to be innocent after being falsely accused of sexual abuse, has died
His death was announced in a statement written by a friend on his Twitter account.
It read: ‘It is with great sadness that I’ve been asked to let all Simon’s followers know that he passed away early this morning at the age of 65 after a short battle with pancreatic/liver cancer.
‘He was surrounded by his family, as well as the love & prayers of his many friends.’
Mr Warr’s death was announced in a statement on his Twitter account, which said he died surrounded by his family
A second post went on to thank everyone who who had sent him ‘kind messages’ after he announced his illness.
It read: ‘Simon’s family have asked me to thank everyone who sent him such kind messages of love, support & hope.
‘Simon’s campaign for justice for the falsely accused will continue. He had just finished writing a new book. Funeral arrangements will be shared soon.
In the post announcing his illness and departure from Twitter, Mr Warr said he was receiving care in a hospice.
He wrote: ‘Dear friends/followers, I’m unlikely to be on Twitter again. As some know already, I have a very serious health condition & am now receiving care in a hospice.
‘I have asked a close friend to let you know the outcome, but I’d like to thank you all for your friendship & support.
In the post announcing his illness and departure from Twitter, Mr Warr said he was receiving care in a hospice
‘I like to think that my legacy will be a greater awareness of the human costs of false sexual allegations & wrongful convictions.
‘It is a comfort to know that my book ‘Presumed Guilty’ has been useful for so many who have faced this ordeal & for their families
‘There is still much work to do, but I’ll not be able to be part of it. I have greatly enjoyed tweeting & campaigning, as well as meeting some of you.
‘Goodbye to you all, dear friends. Yours, Simon.’
Jeremy Vine was among those paying tribute.
The BBC Radio 2 host said: ‘He was a tremendously loyal and very kind man whose abrasive on-air style belied his true thoughtfulness and compassion.
‘He loved to broadcast, to write, and above all to teach. Taken too soon, and far too quickly. RIP’.
For most of his teaching career, Mr Warr taught at boarding schools in Suffolk.
He was the headmaster on the Channel 4 series That’ll Teach ‘Em but his life fell apart in 2012 when he was accused of sex abuse by a boy he had never met
In 2003, he was given the role of headmaster in Channel 4’s That’ll Teach ‘Em, in which 30 children experienced life as it would have been at a 1950s boarding school
He was working at the Royal Hospital School in Ipswich when he was arrested following a complaint from a former pupil at a school where he had taught 30 years before.
Mr Warr had never met him and had never taught PE, the lesson where the ‘abuse’ was alleged to have occurred.
However, the allegation marked the start of a two-year ordeal which ended up in court, but ended with a jury finding him not guilty in less than 40 minutes.
Jeremy Vine was among those paying tribute. The BBC Radio 2 host said: ‘He was a tremendously loyal and very kind man whose abrasive on-air style belied his true thoughtfulness and compassion
He told the Mail On Sunday in 2017: ‘Two hundred years ago if you were a criminal, they’d paint the word ‘criminal’ on your forehead.
‘Now, due to the internet, you just need to be accused of a crime to be for ever branded.’
He had built up a public profile after working on BBC Radio from 1999, where he regularly appeared on BBC Radio Suffolk.
In 2003, he was given the role of headmaster in Channel 4’s That’ll Teach ‘Em, in which 30 children experienced life as it would have been at a 1950s boarding school.
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