BBC presenter scandal: Allegations are ‘garbage’, says younger particular person’s lawyer – report

Claims made by the mom within the BBC presenter scandal are “rubbish”, a lawyer for the younger particular person has reportedly mentioned.

In a letter to the BBC, the lawyer casts doubt on The Sun’s story in regards to the male star who has not been publicly recognized however is reportedly a “household name”.

The letter mentioned “nothing inappropriate or unlawful” passed off between the younger particular person, now aged 20, and the presenter, in response to the BBC.

The letter added the younger particular person despatched a denial to the newspaper on Friday night, saying there was “no truth to it”.

However, the “inappropriate article” was nonetheless printed, the lawyer advised the company.

Read extra: BBC presenter claims – stay updates

It comes because the Metropolitan Police earlier mentioned it was “assessing information” provided by the BBC over the claims.

The power is finishing up additional enquiries to ascertain whether or not any crime has been dedicated following the allegations.

Representatives for the broadcaster have spoken to Met detectives, who mentioned they’re trying on the info mentioned on the digital assembly – however haven’t but launched an investigation.

The BBC quoted a spokesperson for The Sun as saying: “We have reported a story about two very concerned parents who made a complaint to the BBC about the behaviour of a presenter and the welfare of their child.

“Their grievance was not acted upon by the BBC. We have seen proof that helps their issues. It’s now for the BBC to correctly examine.”

‘Huge development’

Sky’s home editor Jason Farrell said the comments from the young person’s lawyer were a “enormous improvement”.

The BBC itself likely did not anticipate the lawyer’s statement, Farrell said.

He said a “large quantity of consideration” will now be directed at The Sun, which has suggested the BBC did not investigate complaints by the young person’s parents appropriately.

According to the newspaper, which first broke the story on Saturday, the presenter paid the young person about £35,000 in exchange for sexually explicit images during a three-year period.

He allegedly began requesting the images in 2020 when the individual was 17 years old and made a series of payments over the years.

The individual had reportedly used the money to fund an addiction to crack cocaine – that had “destroyed” their life, in response to their mom.

It was additionally alleged the presenter stripped to his underwear throughout a video name with them.

Read extra:
Presenter ought to solely be named after ‘full’ investigation – justice secretary
Everything we all know in regards to the claims
Timeline of occasions as unnamed star suspended

Family members of the younger particular person mentioned they made a grievance to the BBC on 19 May, however approached The Sun after turning into pissed off the presenter was nonetheless on air a month later.

While the paper has not revealed the identify of the star, they’ve mentioned he’s paid a six-figure wage and is presently off-air. He was suspended by the BBC on Sunday.

Following the publication of allegations within the press, the presenter is known to have contacted the younger particular person concerned, phoning them and asking, “what have you done?”

In a press release issued by the BBC on Sunday, the company confirmed they first obtained a grievance in regards to the presenter in May.

They mentioned they have been taking the allegations “very seriously,” and had gone on to droop the presenter after receiving new allegations of a distinct nature along with their very own enquiries.

Sir Craig Oliver, a former No 10 director of communications and ex-senior programme editor at BBC News, advised Sky News it was “inevitable” there can be an inquiry into what the company knew and when.

He questioned if the present BBC processes have been “fit for purpose in a social media world” and instructed the company must have a evaluate of them.

Gary Lineker, Rylan Clark, Jeremy Vine and Nicky Campbell are among the many BBC stars to have publicly said that they aren’t the presenter in query.