Billionaire businessman and West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has been accused by seven women of abusing his power and preying on them for sex, with some allegations dating back to the 1980s. The women, who were young models seeking work at Sullivan's newspapers during their late teens or early twenties, claim he pressured them for sexual favors in exchange for career advancement.

These allegations, uncovered in a joint investigation by BBC Panorama and The Times, span decades during which Sullivan amassed wealth from pornography, newspapers, and football. The accusers describe sexually exploitative and predatory behavior, including being coerced into sexual acts during business meetings. One woman, identified as Florence, stated she felt compelled to have sex with Sullivan despite her reluctance.

Sullivan, 77, has categorically denied all claims, describing the investigation as "factually incorrect and entirely false." Hours after the investigation's imminent publication, he resigned as joint chair of West Ham, citing a desire to focus on refuting the "decades-old allegations concerning my personal life." He characterized the investigation as "fundamentally unfair."

The investigation also revealed that Sullivan admitted to paying for sex in the 1990s with a girl he believed to be 16 or 17 years old at the time. It became illegal to pay for sex with individuals aged 16 or 17 in 2003. Sullivan was in his 40s when these encounters occurred.

During the 1980s and 90s, Sullivan held significant influence as a gatekeeper for women aspiring to careers in glamour modeling. Florence recounted a business meeting at his home where he allegedly told her she could become one of his newspapers' "regular girls" if they had sex. Despite her attempts to decline, she claims he maneuvered her into a bedroom and initiated sex.

Lawyers representing Sullivan have described Florence's account as "implausible." Two other women alleged they felt they had no choice but to engage in sexual activity with him to protect their future modeling careers, accusing Sullivan of exploiting their vulnerability.

The accusations paint a picture of a pattern of behavior where Sullivan allegedly leveraged his professional position to solicit sexual encounters. The women involved have spoken out to expose what they describe as exploitative practices that affected their careers and personal lives.

Further details from the investigation are expected to emerge, shedding more light on the extent and impact of these alleged actions across different periods of Sullivan's career and his involvement in the media and sports industries.