David Walliams is a household name in Britain. ( Reuters: Hannah McKay )
London's Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into children's author and comedian David Walliams, after the entertainer was accused of grooming and preying on teenage girls earlier this week.
In a statement released on Friday afternoon, local time, The Met said it had received several allegations of "serious sexual offences" involving Walliams.
It described the claims as "non-recent", and said they were separate to those that appeared in media reports earlier this week.
"We would encourage anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to come forward and speak to us, no matter when it happened," Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney, who is leading the investigation, said.
"We know reporting allegations of this nature can be daunting, but specialist officers are on hand to provide support, answer questions and guide you through the process."
Earlier this week, UK newspaper The Guardian and broadcaster ITV published a joint investigation, in which Walliams, 51, was accused of grooming, and sexually assaulting, young girls.
The Met said it was reviewing the reports as part of its probe, to "establish whether there is any evidence of offences".
