DR SCANDAL
Who was Stephen Ward? Christine Keeler’s friend who killed himself during the Profumo scandal trial
AN OSTEOPATH and reputed pimp's colourful lifestyle threatened to bring down the government in the sex scandal which rocked the British establishment to its core.
Stephen Ward introduced 19-year-old showgirl Christine Keeler to both John Profumo, secretary of state for war and Soviet spy Yevgeny Ivanov. What followed was one of the most high-profile sex scandals of all time.
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Who was Stephen Ward and what role did he play in the Profumo affair?
Stephen Ward was an osteopath with a number of wealthy clients who moved in colourful social circles, he was set to revel in introducing the high life to the low.
He liked young girls, aristocrats and shady operators from overseas - and especially liked mixing them together.
In 1961, he introduced attractive showgirl Christine Keeler - who lived with him in central London - to married Profumo and Ivanov at the height of Cold War tensions.
The story hit the press in 1963 and Profumo was accused of having been lured into a honey trap to blab nuclear secrets which were passed on to the Kremlin.
After initially denying any sexual relationship with Miss Keeler, Profumo was forced to admit the truth a few weeks later and resigned from government.
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What happened to Stephen Ward and how did he die?
A humiliated establishment quickly turned on Ward and he was put on trial for immoral earnings - accused of pimping Keeler and other girls.
Despite a huge effort from Scotland Yard, including tapping Ward's phone and interviewing around 150 witnesses, very little evidence was found against him.
But in a shambolic trial, the judge twice directed the jury that they could infer Ward's guilt from the way he had been abandoned by his friends.
After listening to the damning summing up by the judge, Ward returned home on the eve of the verdict and took an overdose of sleeping tablets.
He was found guilty in his absence the next day and died in hospital three days later.
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Was Stephen Ward an artist?
Stephen was also an accomplished artist, whose have been sold at auction for up to £16,128.
Most of his work were portraits done with a variety of mediums.
He used water colour, pastel and charcoal.
Stephen painted and drew multiple people inclduing Mandy Rice-Davies, a friend Christine.
Who was Stephen Ward's wife?
Stephen's wife was Patricia Mary Baines.
They were married from 1949 to 1952.
Patricia was an actress who came from a prosperous middle-class background.
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