BBC boss says they received ‘incredibly serious’ claim about star but didn’t speak to him until Sun called 7 WEEKS later
THE BBC today launched a review into its complaints procedures after admitting a top presenter was not confronted about “serious allegations” for seven weeks.
Director General Tim Davie said the corporation has paused its investigation into the well-known star at the request of the police.
Scotland Yard will now “scope” whether to launch their own investigation into the sex pic scandal that has rocked the corporation.
But Mr Davie confirmed today that the TV star accused of paying thousands to a teenager, who sent sexual pictures, was not confronted about “serious allegations” made in May.
It was more than seven weeks before the presenter was quizzed by management after being confronted by The Sun on 6 July.
According to the BBC, that day “a senior manager held the first conversation on this matter with the presenter concerned, to make him aware of the claims being outlined by The Sun.
“It was agreed that the presenter would not be on air while this matter was being considered.”
But they admit a concerned family member of the youngster had “attended a BBC building, where they sought to make a complaint about the behaviour of a BBC presenter” nearly two months previously on 18 May.
The following day the “complainant contacted BBC Audience Services; the details of this contact were referred to the BBC’s Corporate Investigations Team.”
Mr Davie admitted that “It was a serious complaint, there were serious allegations and the corporate investigation team judged they wanted to take it further.”
But he claimed it would not have been right to contact the presenter until further information had been sought from the complainant, insisting attempts were made to do so.
But regardless he has ordered an investigation into “protocols and procedures” and how complaints are “red flagged” – admitting there will be lessons to be learnt.
He added: “Immediately, I have asked that we assess how some complaints or red flags up the organisation’.
In a statement today the BBC said: “Yesterday, 10 July, the BBC’s Corporate Investigations Team had a meeting with the Metropolitan Police in relation to information provided to the BBC by The Sun newspaper on Thursday 6 July.
“As a result of this meeting, the BBC has been asked to pause its investigations into the allegations while the Police scope future work.
“The BBC has processes and protocols for receiving information and managing complaints when they are first made.
“We always take these matters extremely seriously and seek to manage them with the appropriate duty of care.
“The events of recent days have shown how complex and challenging these kinds of cases can be and how vital it is that they are handled with the utmost diligence and care.
“There will, of course, be lessons to be learned following this exercise.”
The briefing comes after the youngster’s stepdad told The Sun of the seven-week delay after the made the bombshell claims.
He also claimed he told Beeb bosses the family had screenshots of contact between their child and the star.
He said: “We put the allegations to them for an hour.”
The stepfather accused the BBC of lying after it said “new allegations” emerged, leading to the star’s suspension on Sunday.
He fumed: “They’re not telling the truth. I told them the youngster was 20 and it had been going on for three years.”
He added: “I told the BBC I had gone to the police in desperation but they couldn’t do anything as they said it wasn’t illegal. They knew all of this.”
He also said the money did not stop, adding: “I don’t even think they spoke to him.”
The BBC star is accused of paying the youngster thousands – with the money allegedly spent on a “spiralling” crack habit.
A lawyer for the youngster says nothing unlawful or inappropriate happened.
But their family say they have only spoken out to help save their vulnerable addict child.
The mother and stepfather also questioned who had paid to provide their child with an expensive lawyer.
The mum said: “It is sad but we stand by our account and we hope they get the help they need.
“We did this to help – and the presenter has got into their head. How did they afford a lawyer?