The BBC presenter accused of paying a youngster greater than £35,000 for sexually specific pictures is alleged to have partied with bosses at an awards ceremony after the allegations had been made in opposition to him, it has emerged.
Insiders declare the host loved a champagne reception and a three-course meal alongside senior executives weeks after the alleged sufferer’s mom complained to the community.
A fellow celebration visitor advised the Mirror that it was ‘astonishing’ that somebody going through ‘such critical allegations’ might attend the occasion, including: ‘If this man was conscious of what was hanging over him, he actually didn’t present it.’
The presenter, who has not been named however is described as being well-known, allegedly started paying {the teenager} after they had been 17, and despatched them the cash which they used to fund an habit to crack cocaine.
The lurid hypothesis was sparked by a newspaper report that the teen’s household had complained concerning the behaviour of the ‘family identify’ seven weeks in the past, however had been sad with the BBC response.
The presenter has reportedly been taken off air pending an investigation, however is alleged to be recognized to hundreds of thousands of individuals. He might face a police probe over potential crimes which carry a most 14-year jail sentence, it was revealed final evening.
It comes as senior MPs are placing strain on the BBC to disclose the way it dealt with the allegations made in opposition to the host.
The BBC presenter accused of paying a youngster greater than £35,000 for sexually specific pictures is alleged to have partied with bosses at an awards ceremony after the allegations had been made in opposition to him, it has emerged
The alleged sufferer’s mom says that the household complained to the BBC on Might 19, asking for the presenter to be advised to cease sending their little one cash.
It’s claimed that even after the household complained, the star continued to ship cash and remained on air – earlier than attending an awards even and partying with BBC bosses.
Weeks after the allegations had been made in opposition to him, he rubbed shoulders with different celebrities at an elite venue, the place he loved a three-course dinner earlier than the celebrations started, based on the Mirror.
A supply advised the paper: ‘It’s astonishing somebody accused of such critical allegations was capable of attend an occasion like this.
‘The BBC had been made conscious within the strongest doable phrases of what this individual is meant to have accomplished – and nonetheless they had been capable of go alongside, with colleagues in tow. It is extremely odd, to say the least.’
Mom of youth ‘paid £35k for intercourse pics by well-known host’ tells of shock at ‘seeing lewd picture of star’: CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
The Company right this moment declined to touch upon the stories that the host partied with bosses following the allegations.
Final evening, the BBC additionally refused to substantiate what, if any, motion it had taken and whether or not it had confronted the presenter.
Nonetheless, the star has not been suspended – though he isn’t presently scheduled to be on air.
The scandal comes because the Company faces new questions from MPs concerning the probe.
Former House Secretary Priti Patel referred to as the broadcaster’s remedy of the criticism ‘derisory’.
Ms Patel insisted the BBC ‘should present the sufferer and his household a full and clear investigation’.
She added: ‘The BBC, which is funded by licence charge payers, has grow to be a faceless and unaccountable organisation.’
Fellow Conservative MP Paul Bristow mentioned: ‘What’s being prompt is extremely critical. The BBC have to be utterly clear on how it’s coping with this criticism. No ifs, no buts. They should let the licence charge paying public know what they’re doing and what they suggest to do.’
Labour shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves mentioned the stories had been ‘deeply regarding’.
She advised Sky Information’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday present: ‘The concept some presenters act with impunity and may get away with these type of issues, it does name into query the ethics, the investigations, how lengthy this stuff take,
‘The BBC and different broadcasters do must get a grip as a result of we appear to lurch from one scandal to a different and extra must be accomplished.’
Ms Reeves added there needs to be a ‘full investigation’ into the matter.
‘That’s the regarding factor, somebody makes a criticism – a really critical criticism – after which they’re placed on the TV the subsequent evening and so they’re nonetheless there,’ she mentioned.
‘That’s not ok, that’s not treating folks, victims, with respect and that’s why there must be a full investigation.’
Authorities minister Victoria Atkins, the Monetary Secretary to the Treasury, advised Sky Information: ‘These are very, very critical allegations and the BBC have mentioned they’ve processes in locations.
‘However I feel as public consideration and concern grows, the BBC goes to should act very swiftly to cope with these allegations and set out what they’ll examine them.’
Ms Atkins mentioned she might ‘fairly perceive the general public concern’ concerning the allegations.
She backed a name by ex-home secretary Priti Patel for a ‘full and clear’ investigation by the BBC.
‘It might be that occurs in the end,’ she added.
‘With allegations of this sort, we as a Authorities have labored very exhausting over time to attempt to assist complainants of very critical allegations each within the legal courts and with the police.
‘And I’d anticipate different establishments which have duties with the general public to have comparable excessive requirements.’
Senior BBC figures are understood to be troubled to keep away from accusations of inaction, the declare levelled at ITV chiefs over its dealing with of the Phillip Schofield scandal.
Company sources mentioned they had been conscious some stars had been being wrongly linked to the claims however would solely say: ‘We’re totally conscious of this and it will likely be handled internally.’
Below the Safety of Youngsters Act 1978, it’s an offence to ‘make, distribute, possess or present any indecent pictures of anybody aged below 18’ – even when it was created with the younger individual’s consent.
It is usually a legal offence to ask a toddler below 18 to ship a sexual picture of themselves – and inflicting or inciting sexual exploitation of a kid carries a most penalty of 14 years in jail.
Making or possessing indecent pictures carries a most sentence of 10 years.
The BBC star was mentioned to have been taken off air on Friday – however has not been suspended, the Solar stories
One of many UK’s high attorneys Nazir Afzal (pictured) has questioned why the BBC didn’t act sooner
The specific messages are mentioned to have began in 2020. The household mentioned the star didn’t disguise his identification and even despatched images to the teenager whereas he was at work.
He would allegedly request ‘performances’ from {the teenager}, who advised their mom they might then ‘get their bits out’.
On one event, he despatched {the teenager} a lump sum of £5,000.
The mom advised the Solar their little one went from a ‘happy-go-lucky teen to a ghost-like crack addict’ in simply three years.
{The teenager}’s mom mentioned she as soon as heard the BBC star telling them: ‘I advised you to not f***ing ring me’.
She mentioned her relationship along with her little one has at all times been shut, and that they’ve beforehand confided when the person has despatched them cash.
The teenager’s mom advised the Solar final evening she used to ‘love’ watching the presenter, and was left ‘shocked’ to see {a photograph} of him in his underwear on the couch of his home whereas her little one’s cellphone.
‘I instantly recognised him. He was leaning ahead preparing for my little one to carry out for him. My little one advised me, “I’ve proven issues” and this was an image from some form of video name.’
However now the stricken mom says: ‘Every time I see him on telly, I really feel sick.
She believes nothing was accomplished and mentioned the person continued to ship her little one money as he remained on air.
The BBC has appeared to recommend the household didn’t reply to them after they tried to pursue an investigation. However one of many nation’s high attorneys has questioned why they didn’t act sooner.
Nazir Afzal, who prosecuted the Rochdale grooming gang, advised the Occasions final evening he was ‘stunned that this individual was not suspended as soon as [the BBC] turned conscious of the gravity of the allegation.’
He continued: ‘The police ought to have been engaged as quickly as they labored out whether or not the criticism was real.
‘The place are we now – the center of July? Six, seven weeks on. They need to have suggested the police that this can be a matter that they need to be investigating, and that ought to have been accomplished weeks in the past.
‘There’s no justification for the police not having grow to be concerned as early as doable.’
A number of main BBC stars have been fast to substantiate they aren’t the person behind the scandal. Rylan Clark, Jeremy Vine and Gary Lineker have all denied they’re concerned.
It follows the revelation yesterday that the unnamed presenter had been allegedly paying the teenager, who’s now 20, for specific images for 3 years.
The distraught mom advised how their little one was utilizing the cash, which was mentioned to have been deposited of their checking account in a whole lot and even 1000’s at a time, to fund their ‘spiralling’ crack cocaine habit.
The mom advised The Solar on Sunday: ‘We simply wished the BBC to inform him to cease. I’ve had three years of hell. The influence of this has been terrifying.’
She continued: ‘In my thoughts that man was supplying the crack. My little one wouldn’t have entry to this cash if it wasn’t for him. If it goes on then my little one goes to wind up lifeless. Placing this out to the general public is the one method to cease it.’
She beforehand advised the paper she feels ‘sick’ each time she sees the presenter on tv, and blames him for ‘destroying my little one’s life’.
The star, mentioned to be recognized to hundreds of thousands, allegedly requested ‘performances’ from {the teenager}, who used the money to fund their spiralling drug behavior.
Jeremy Vine (pictured) additionally distanced himself from the allegations on Saturday
Rylan Clark was one in every of three high-profile names to disclaim his involvement on Saturday
This night, Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, turned the third outstanding BBC presenter to distance himself from stories {that a} high BBC star paid a weak teenager £35,000 for sexual footage that the teen used to purchase crack cocaine
Dame Carol Dinenage, chair of the Tradition, Media and Sports activities Committee mentioned: ‘The BBC clearly has some very critical inquiries to reply.
‘It’s important that TV corporations have in place the best techniques and processes to make sure their stars, who’ve disproportionate energy and affect over the lives and careers of others, don’t abuse it.’
It comes as main BBC celebrities have said publicly they aren’t the presenter being investigated.
This night, Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, turned the third outstanding BBC presenter to say they weren’t the BBC star going through the intense accusations.
At simply after 7pm, the soccer pundit tweeted: ‘Hate to disappoint the haters but it surely’s not me.’
Earlier on Saturday, Rylan, who has introduced on BBC Radio Two amongst a string of different work, was the primary to declare he was not the host in query.
He wrote: ‘Undecided why my names floating about however re that story in The Solar – that ain’t me babe.
‘I’m presently filming a present in Italy for the BBC, so take my identify out ya mouths.’
Vine then additionally distanced himself from the claims, including: Simply to say I’m very a lot wanting ahead to internet hosting my radio present on Monday — whoever the ‘BBC Presenter’ within the information is, I’ve the identical message for you as Rylan did earlier: it actually ain’t me.’
Nicky Campbell appeared to recommend he had contacted police about being talked about in reference to the story.
He tweeted a screenshot which featured the Metropolitan Police brand and the phrases: “Thanks for contacting the Metropolitan Police Service to report your crime.”
In his tweet, he wrote: “I feel it’s essential to take a stand. There’s simply too many of those folks on social media. Thanks on your assist associates.”
The BBC’s tradition editor Katie Razzall mentioned the presenter’s continued presence on its content material after a critical allegation was made ‘results in questions on what steps the Company took after the criticism.’
She mentioned many questions had been nonetheless unanswered, together with how the investigation was undertaken and if it was acceptable for the unnamed presenter to stay on air following the allegation.
BBC Information leisure correspondent Lizo Mzimba yesterday mentioned that the unnamed presenter is not going to seem on air within the close to future.
He advised the BBC Information channel: ‘We perceive that the presenter is presently not scheduled to be on air within the close to future.’
A BBC spokesperson advised MailOnline on Friday: ‘We deal with any allegations very severely and we have now processes in place to proactively cope with them.
‘As a part of that, if we obtain data that requires additional investigation or examination, we are going to take steps to do that.
‘That features actively making an attempt to talk to those that have contacted us to be able to search additional element and understanding of the scenario.
‘If we get no reply to our makes an attempt or obtain no additional contact that may restrict our capacity to progress issues but it surely doesn’t imply our enquiries cease.
‘If, at any level, new data involves gentle or is offered — together with by way of newspapers — this shall be acted upon appropriately, in step with inner processes.’