Library will not take Walliams books off shelves

A Guernsey library will continue to loan out books authored by David Walliams after allegations of sexual misconduct were made against him.

Guille-Alles Library, in St Peter Port, said literature should remain available to readers unless the content was illegal.

A spokesperson said "we recognise this is a sensitive and complex issue" but added "we take seriously our responsibility to protect people's freedom to read what they want to read".

Reports by ITV News and the Guardian on Tuesday alleged Walliams had been accused of sexual misconduct by several women. He denies all of the allegations against him.

The library spokesperson said: "As a public library, we follow established professional and ethical principles in deciding which books to include in our collection.

"The starting point is that books should remain available to readers unless the content of those books is illegal."

In his statement to ITV News and the Guardian, Walliams said: "Looking back, I realise that at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with.

"I realise I did not always take people's feelings properly into account. That is something I regret. And whilst a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous, abusing that power is something else entirely and it is something that I never did.

"I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law, but I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me."

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