STUART Hall, of the BBC, a predatory sex offender, with girls as young as nine among his victims. It is hard to believe.

He was the chap in the stripey jacket, whose infectious laugh made It’s A Knockout such enjoyable, innocent family entertainment in the 1970s.

He was the ageing but sharp-witted football reporter who raised many a smile with his off-the-wall, whimsical reflections on matches which may well have been as dull as ditch-water.

Now he is an 83-year-old man with a ruined life and reputation after admitting 14 charges of indecent assault which had been repeatedly denied.

The fact that he has finally been brought to justice is testament to the courage of the victims who came forward to give evidence, unaware that there were so many others who had also been abused by Hall.

Their collective evidence formed a pattern of behaviour so conclusive that Hall could no longer scoff at the alleged ludicrousness of the allegations.

For those who have questioned whether the pursuit of justice for historic sex offences is a waste of time and public money, this case represents a clear answer.

After so many years, the victims have finally gained closure and that has to be worthwhile.

However, Stuart Hall’s guilt, along with further evidence that known sex pests went unchallenged, will cast further shadows over the BBC and the culture that was allowed to develop.