Freddie Starr buys flat on Costa Del Sol to escape legal bill after losing court case

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Six weeks ago he bought a new home in a Spanish apartment complex
This came about a fortnight after selling his house in Warwickshire
Starr sat in a bar on the Costa del Sol with a dark-haired female companion
The comedian was heard complaining he was having difficulty sleeping

Published: 17:45 EST, 22 September 2015 | Updated: 02:17 EST, 23 September 2015

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Freddie Starr has bought a flat in Spain after fleeing Britain to escape a million-pound legal bill, the Mail can reveal.

The comedian, 72, faced financial ruin after losing a court case against a woman who claimed he groped her when she was 15.

But just six weeks ago he bought a new home in a Spanish apartment complex, about a fortnight after selling his house in Warwickshire.

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The comedian, pictured with a mystery friend, faced financial ruin after losing a court case against a woman who claimed he groped her when she was 15

Freddie Starr and mystery friend leaving a restaurant in Marbella, where he is now living in tax exile

When approached by the Mail as he walked to his silver Mercedes convertible, he refused to comment on the money he owes in legal fees, got into the car and drove away at speed

Yesterday afternoon Starr, who had not been seen in public for two months, sat in a bar on the Costa del Sol with a dark-haired female companion, joking and discussing his current lifestyle.

The comedian, who appeared to have put on weight, could be heard complaining that he was having difficulty sleeping, saying to a fellow drinker: ‘I just feel tired all the time.’

When approached by the Mail as he walked to his silver Mercedes convertible, he refused to comment on the money he owes in legal fees, got into the car and drove away at speed.

Starr’s new home on the Costa del Sol was purchased for £175,000 just six weeks ago, shortly after he sold his British property for almost £700,000.

Yesterday afternoon Starr, who had not been seen in public for two months, sat in a bar on the Costa del Sol with a dark-haired female companion, joking and discussing his current lifestyle

Freddie Starr's mystery friends steps into his Mercedes sports car yesterday in Marbella

Instead of paying around £1million to cover her legal fees and court costs as he was ordered to by the judge, Starr liquidated his assets and left the country

He was facing ruin after losing a High Court case against 57-year-old Karin Ward, who claimed he had put his hand up her skirt when she was a teenager, before callously dismissing her as a ‘***less wonder’.

But instead of paying around £1million to cover her legal fees and court costs as he was ordered to by the judge, Starr liquidated his assets and left the country.

He tried to sue Miss Ward, a victim of serial sex offender Jimmy Savile, for libel after she gave interviews saying she was ‘horribly, horribly humiliated’ by Starr.

She described him as having had ‘a very bad attack of wandering hands’ during the filming of an episode of TV show Clunk Click in 1974.

The apartment block in Marbella where Freddie Starr is now living in tax exile

Starr claimed he had lost £300,000 in earnings as a result of the allegations. However, Mr Justice Nicol ruled that Miss Ward was telling the truth and dismissed the case last July.

Starr initially insisted he had never met Miss Ward – then a 15-year-old pupil at Duncroft Approved School where Savile preyed on many of his victims – but footage emerged of her sitting behind him on the TV programme.

The comedian was arrested under Operation Yewtree but did not face charges. Miss Ward alleged that Starr had groped her bottom and tried to touch her chest.

She said: ‘I can remember Freddie Starr smelt extremely unpleasant and put me in mind of my stepfather.’

Starr denied all the claims and said in his witness statement: ‘I consider Jimmy Savile to be perverted if it is established the allegations against him are true.

‘My wife was with me at that show. I had three lovely children. I don’t see how I could have acted so inappropriately.’

Freddie Starr's mercedes sports car outside his apartment in Marbella where he is now living in tax exile

Karin Ward, pictured, claimed Freddie Starr had put his hand up her skirt when she was a teenager, before callously dismissing her as a ‘***less wonder’.

He added: ‘It just never happened. It was not in my moral compass. My moral compass will not allow me to do that.’

Starr’s disappearance was only discovered last month after he failed to make the first payment of £334,000 and court officials tried to serve a statutory demand order to his home.

It emerged he had sold his home in Studley, Warwickshire, for £695,000 two months ago – around £50,000 less than he paid for it seven years ago.