According to intelligence shared between the UK’s National Crime Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the disgraced financier made a series of payments connected to a seven-figure property in Kensington.
Documents recently released by the US Department of Justice show messages from one potential beneficiary thanking Epstein enthusiastically for the “London apt”. He responded by asking: “Is it far from school?”
The material suggests Epstein remained active in the UK shortly before he was found dead in a New York prison cell on 10 August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Pressure Mounts for Full UK Investigation
The revelations are likely to intensify calls for a comprehensive British inquiry into Epstein’s network of associates and alleged enablers.
In recent weeks, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, also known as Prince Andrew, and Peter Mandelson have been arrested on separate allegations of misconduct in public office. Both men deny wrongdoing and are accused of sharing confidential government information with Epstein.
At least ten UK police forces, alongside the Ministry of Defence, are reviewing flights linked to Epstein’s private jets to and from British airports and RAF bases. Investigators are examining whether any journeys were connected to trafficking or other criminal activity.
Police sources indicate there are concerns that “dozens” of victims may have been abused in Britain or passed through the country.
Suspicious Payments Identified
The existence of the Kensington flat emerged from a five-page intelligence dossier compiled by the National Crime Agency and shared with US authorities in January 2020.
The document references five payments totalling at least £160,629 transferred into UK bank accounts, including accounts held at Lloyds and Standard Chartered.
Two payments originated from LSJE LLC, an offshore company reportedly used to manage operations linked to Little Saint James, Epstein’s private Caribbean island. The island became widely known as “Paedophile Island” due to allegations of abuse involving underage girls.
The dossier describes Epstein as the “ultimate beneficial owner” of LSJE.
One payment of £22,776 in March 2019 was transferred to a Coutts account connected to a London property management client account. The postcode referenced corresponds to Manson Place in South Kensington, a quiet cul-de-sac near the Natural History Museum.
MDesign London, a property developer and lettings agent operating in the area, confirmed that the payment related to a six-month tenancy taken out in the name of an adult woman. The company stressed it had no knowledge that Epstein was behind the transaction and stated there is no suggestion of wrongdoing on its part.
Messages Referencing “School”
Further confirmation of Epstein’s involvement with the flat comes from Skype messages released by the Department of Justice.
In late June 2019, an unidentified woman thanked him for the apartment, describing its Chelsea location as “lovely”. Epstein’s responsE: “Is it far from school?” has raised fresh questions.
Other correspondence suggests Epstein may have paid for women to enrol at language schools in London, potentially to facilitate UK student visa applications.
Former prime minister Gordon Brown has publicly questioned whether trafficking victims were similarly enrolled in UK institutions, as he alleges occurred in the United States.
One institution referenced in the documents is the Frances King School of English in Kensington. Messages show an unidentified individual asking Epstein to “pay for the school” and sharing a payment link referencing “Frances King”. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the school.
In another exchange, a London-based contact indicated that tuition fees would be necessary to obtain a student visa invitation for a young woman travelling to Britain.
Multi-Force Coordination Underway
Senior officers from multiple police forces are now reviewing millions of documents released earlier this year. Weekly coordination meetings are being led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
Rebecca Riggs, who heads the Hydrant programme established after the Jimmy Savile child abuse scandal is understood to be involved in coordinating the response.
The National Crime Agency is also believed to have held preliminary discussions with the FBI about securing unredacted US documents for potential use in any future British prosecutions. The process is expected to be lengthy.
The NCA declined to comment on specific investigative steps, stating it does not routinely confirm or deny the existence of investigations or information-sharing arrangements.
