After a notable male television presenter was suspended by the BBC over allegations that he paid a teenager for sexually explicit images, officers of the Metropolitan Police have commenced conversations with the renowned organization.
Speaking about her shock at seeing the lewd image of the star, the traumatised mother of the youth paid £35k for sex photographs by the famous host said: “Stripped half naked, the BBC man was on his sofa waiting for my child to perform for him” after he allegedly began sending requests for sexually explicit images when her child was just 17.
While the crime has been revealed to carry a maximum 14-year prison sentence, top lawyers say he could now face a lengthy police investigation over potential criminal behaviour.
However, the BBC is struggling to contain the mounting scandal over claims that its presenter who happens to be a household name paid £35,000 over three years to a young person who used the money to fund their crack cocaine habit.
The Metropolitan police confirmed it was in discussions with the BBC about the incident but had not received a formal allegation: “We will require additional information before determining what further action should follow.”
Media outlets have not named the presenter, with sources at the Sun citing the UK’s increasingly strong privacy laws as a reason for not identifying them. Last year the supreme court ruled that, in most cases, individuals under investigation by official organisations should not be named before charges are brought because it could unfairly damage their reputation.
The young person, who was allegedly 17 years old when they began talking to the presenter, is said to have sent the BBC employee explicit images and performed on video calls.
Although the age of consent in England and Wales is 16 years old, the minimum age at which people are allowed to send explicit photographs is 18.
The young person’s mother complained to the BBC in mid-May about the presenter’s alleged actions but he remained on air until she took her story to the Sun last week. She told the newspaper she had seen the presenter “stripped to his underpants for a video call” with her child, who is now 20 years old. “I blame this BBC man for destroying my child’s life,” she said. “Taking my child’s innocence and handing over the money for crack cocaine that could kill my child.”
She added: “We never wanted an investigation. We just wanted the BBC to tell him to stop. Initially the security boss gave us a number that didn’t exist.”
The presenter remained on air until last week, when journalists at the Sun approached the BBC for comment. A specialist unit at the Metropolitan police that deals with high-profile individuals was informed of the allegations on Friday, with further conversations with the police due to take place this week.
Questions are already being asked over whether the BBC acted fast enough to suspend the presenter. One BBC source suggested the initial complaint from the mother had been “concerning”, but the claims she made to the Sun were more substantial and triggered a full-blown investigation. It is not known if the young person is cooperating with any inquires.
One key legal issue is whether the young person sent the BBC presenter any pictures when they were 17, which could amount to possession of child sexual abuse images, a serious criminal charge that incurs a minimum of six months’ prison. If explicit photos were exchanged only after they turned 18, it is possible that no law was broken.
The corporation said on Sunday: “The BBC takes any allegations seriously and we have robust internal processes in place to proactively deal with such allegations. This is a complex and fast-moving set of circumstances and the BBC is working as quickly as possible to establish the facts in order to properly inform appropriate next steps.
“It is important that these matters are handled fairly and with care. We have been clear that if – at any point – new information comes to light or is provided to us, this will be acted upon appropriately and actively followed up.”
The mother told the Sun that she had gone to the press because she felt the BBC was not acting fast enough on her allegations: “My child said they had run out of money and then suddenly had this cash. It’s obvious to me the BBC hadn’t spoken to this man between our complaint on 19 May and in June, as they thought he was too important.”
The BBC director general, Tim Davie, also emailed staff about the allegations, confirming that the corporation had first received a complaint almost two months ago. He said new allegations of a different nature were put to the corporation on Thursday, prompting the suspension of the presenter: “By law, individuals are entitled to a reasonable expectation of privacy, which is making this situation more complex.”
He also condemned false accusations against various other prominent male BBC presenters that have spread on social media, which have forced the likes of Nicky Campbell, Jeremy Vine and Gary Lineker to distance themselves from the claim.
Davie said: “I also want to be very clear that I am wholly condemning the unsubstantiated rumours being made on the internet about some of our presenting talent. We are in contact with the family referenced in the media reports.”
The suspension of one of the BBC’s presenters has shocked staff. Senior executives have been locked in regular meetings since the story broke as they work out how to handle the crisis, while the culture secretary, Lucy Frazer, has already held talks with Davie.
“Given the nature of the allegations, it is important that the BBC is now given the space to conduct its investigation, establish the facts and take appropriate action. I will be kept updated,” she said on Sunday.
Credits: The Guardian UK
