BBC scandal: Met Police 'assessing situation' to determine if there's 'evidence of a criminal offence'

BBC Broadcasting House
The BBC first became aware of a complaint in May.
PA
Georgina Cutler

By Georgina Cutler


Published: 10/07/2023

- 16:02

Updated: 10/07/2023

- 18:34

The BBC presenter has been taken off air following allegations he paid a teenager for explicit images

The Metropolitan Police has said it is "assessing the information" following a meeting with the BBC over allegations that an unnamed presenter paid a teenager for sexually explicit images.

Officers say further enquiries are taking place to establish whether there is evidence of a criminal offence being committed.


The Metropolitan Police met with representatives from the BBC earlier today to assess the information.

The top BBC presenter has been suspended after he allegedly paid a teenager £35,000 for explicit pictures.

BBC building

The Metropolitan Police met with representatives from the BBC earlier today to assess the information

PA

In a statement, police said: “Detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime Command met with representatives from the BBC on the morning of Monday 10 July.

"The meeting took place virtually. They are assessing the information discussed at the meeting and further enquiries are taking place to establish whether there is evidence of a criminal offence being committed.

"There is no investigation at this time."

The Sun, who first reported the allegations, narrows down the presenter as a “male member of staff,” who earns a six-figure salary and is currently off air.

The unnamed senior figure is said to have first asked the youngster for images when they were 17-years-old.

They have also been accused of continuing to make a number of payments over the years, which has helped fund the now-20-year-old's crack cocaine habit, according to the individual’s family.

The BBC has said it had been investigating a complaint since May, when it was first made aware, and that new allegations of a “different nature” were reported on Thursday.

The youth’s mother first told The Sun on Friday: “I blame this BBC man for destroying my child’s life.

BBC Director-General Tim Davie outside the BBC

BBC director-general Tim Davie is due to face the media on Tuesday for a scheduled briefing following the release of the corporation’s annual report

PA

"Taking my child’s innocence and handing over the money for crack cocaine that could kill my child.”

BBC director-general Tim Davie is due to face the media on Tuesday for a scheduled briefing following the release of the corporation’s annual report, however it is expected the growing scandal involving the unnamed presenter will dominate the event.

Davie has said he is “wholly condemning the unsubstantiated rumours being made on the internet about some of our presenting talent” after a number of BBC stars were forced to publicly state they are not the individual in question.

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