LONDON — There’s no proof a BBC presenter who allegedly paid a youngster for sexually express images dedicated against the law, London police mentioned Wednesday because the broadcaster’s spouse publicly recognized him for the primary time as veteran information anchor Huw Edwards.

Metropolitan police mentioned it made its choice after talking with the alleged sufferer and that individual’s mother and father. The mother and father advised The Sun newspaper final week that the presenter had been allowed to stay on air after the mom complained to the BBC in May that he paid the youth 35,000 kilos ($45,000) beginning in 2020 when the individual was 17.

As the story topped the information in Britain all week and embroiled the BBC in scandal, hypothesis swirled concerning the determine of the presenter. Some of the BBC’s largest on-air personalities publicly mentioned it wasn’t them and others known as on the unnamed presenter to return ahead.

Edward’s spouse, Vicky Flind, named her husband late Wednesday and mentioned he was hospitalized with severe psychological well being points.

After “five extremely difficult days for our family” Flind mentioned she was naming him “primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children.”

“The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future,” she mentioned.

Edwards, 61, is one in all Britain’s best-known and most authoritative information broadcasters, lead anchor on the BBC’s nighttime information and the face of its election protection. He led BBC protection of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September. He’s among the many broadcaster’s best-paid stars, with an annual wage of at the very least 435,000 kilos ($565,000).

The U.Okay.’s publicly funded nationwide broadcaster had not named Edwards, however mentioned it had suspended a male star over the allegations. The BBC mentioned it is going to proceed its investigation into the matter.

A lawyer representing the younger individual in query, who was not named, advised the BBC earlier this week that “nothing inappropriate or unlawful has taken place between our client and the BBC personality.” The lawyer mentioned the allegations reported in The Sun have been “rubbish.”

Though the age of sexual consent in Britain is 16, it's a crime to make or possess indecent photographs of anybody below 18.

The Metropolitan Police issued an announcement saying no additional motion can be taken.

“Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command have now concluded their assessment and have determined there is no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed,” the power mentioned.

Jon Sopel, the previous BBC News North America editor, despatched his finest needs to Edwards and his household.

“This is an awful and shocking episode, where there was no criminality, but perhaps a complicated private life,” Sopel tweeted. “That doesn’t feel very private now. I hope that will give some cause to reflect.”

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