Comedian Jim Davidson has said he does not believe people accused of sex crimes should be granted anonymity, despite being wrongly accused of rape last year.

The 60-year-old said that naming alleged attackers made it more likely that victims would come forward.

It comes after he was investigated for eight months over claims made by several women, including rape allegations, before it was decided he would not be charged last August.

In an interview with Mail on Sunday's Event magazine, Davidson said: '"The publicity means that more victims will come forward and speak out."

And he said that police had no option but to carry out the investigation into the claims against him.

He explained: "The police gave me a bit of paper and it said what the allegations were, and I relaxed a little bit because I thought, one was a story from a newspaper, which I'd read, and all the things she was saying didn't add up - I didn't own a Bentley at that time.

"And the other was a similar equally implausible story. It wasn't under age sex, both of my accusers were in their 20s. But neither assaults happened, no.

"Rape is a terrible thing. But it is also terrible to be wrongly accused of it."

But the five-times married entertainer did admit that he was prone to consensual flings at the height of his fame.

"When I was really famous I'd have a dressing-room doodah or call up a lady for horizontal refreshment," he said.

And he said he will be making jokes about Jimmy Savile at his upcoming one-man show, called No Further Action.

He said: "I'll be making jokes about Jimmy Savile, of course I will. No one liked him."