The BBC star at the center of a sex photo row has been claimed to have broken Covid rules by meeting a 23-year-old stranger from a dating site.
The unnamed presenter, who has been embroiled in scandal amid claims he paid a teenager £35,000 for sexually explicit photographs, has been accused of defying a third national lockdown in 2021 to meet another man.
The star, who is a household name, was accused of breaking strict Covid rules when the BBC asked millions to follow them as part of its coverage of the pandemic at the same time.
The unnamed presenter, who faces allegations that he sent threatening and abusive messages to another man he met on a dating app, met the stranger after months of chatting, sent them cash and asked for a photo, The Sun reported.
The 23-year-old stranger claimed the presenter traveled to a different county to meet them at their flat in February 2021 when the rules included staying at home orders and only mixing in the family bubble.
The unnamed BBC presenter met a stranger from a dating site in February 2021. Photo: BBC New Broadcasting House in London
It has been claimed that the BBC star, 23, broke lockdown rules to attend a meeting in a flat. Pictured: A sign urging people to ‘stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives’ in London
In November 2020, a few months after they started talking on the dating site, the man claimed at that meeting, ‘He came for an hour….we just chatted. She was busy making me a cup of tea.’
In an interview with the newspaper, the man claimed they met on accounts that were not pictures of the presenter but that he ‘put two and two together’ when the BBC star told him his name and what he did for a living.
They said the host was keen to meet face-to-face and asked to do so even as restrictions ‘continue to tighten’ as the pandemic continues.
However, when they turned down the chance to meet the BBC presenter, she allegedly sent a ‘barrage of messages’ saying she ‘felt unwanted’.
The 23-year-old claims he ‘turned around for an hour’ when they met.
They told The Sun: ‘I was quite shocked that he broke the rules to meet me because of who he is. I was a random person online.
‘We just hung out. She was busy making me a cup of tea.’
The newspaper demanded a sworn statement from the dating site user claiming he received three payments totaling £650 from the presenter sent by PayPal.
They added that they began to feel ‘used’ and ‘uncomfortable’ by the TV star’s behavior and demanding messages.
The Sun said it had contacted the BBC and the presenter about the claims.
BBC director-general Tim Davey revealed today that he had not spoken to the presenter at the center of the scandal. Picture: Mr Davey at a service to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NHS at Westminster Abbey
It comes after allegations the presenter sent abusive and threatening messages to a different man in their 20s after meeting them on a dating app.
How the BBC presenter ‘Sex Peaks’ scandal came to light
2020: The BBC presenter allegedly began asking the teenager to take sexually explicit photos.
May 19: The family of the alleged victim complains to the BBC, asking the presenter to stop sending their child money.
June: The alleged host allegedly attended a party with senior BBC executives.
July 7: The BBC star was said to have been sacked – but not suspended.
The alleged victim’s family detailed the allegations in a newspaper interview, claiming the presenter had paid for the candid images for three years.
The alleged victim’s mother also claimed the teenager used the cash to fund their drug habit.
July 8: It is revealed that the presenter may face a police investigation for possible offenses that carry a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
A number of big BBC stars – including Rylan Clarke, Jeremy Vine and Gary Lineker – have confirmed they are not behind the scandal.
July 9: Culture Secretary Lucy Fraser holds ‘urgent talks’ with BBC boss Tim Davey.
The BBC has suspended the male staff member who was the subject of the allegations.
Director-General Tim Davey sent an internal email to staff saying the BBC was taking the allegations ‘incredibly seriously’.
The BBC has reportedly contacted the police.
July 10: BBC representatives meet the Metropolitan Police.
In a letter published by BBC News at Six, Young said through a lawyer: ‘For the avoidance of doubt, nothing inappropriate or illegal occurred between our client and the BBC personality and the allegations published in The Sun newspaper are ‘rubbish’. ‘.’
The legal representative also said the young man told The Sun on Friday evening before the story was published in the newspaper that there was ‘no truth to it’, the BBC reported.
The youth’s mother and stepfather stood by their allegations and questioned how their child could afford a lawyer, The Sun reported.
The newspaper reported that the mother said: ‘It’s sad but we stand by our accounts and we hope they get the help they need.
‘We did it to help – and presenters got on their heads. How can they afford a lawyer?’
They claimed they were under pressure to meet him but never did, the BBC reported.
When they indicated online that they could give their names, they alleged that they were sent abusive messages that were filled with obscenities.
The new claims about the star’s conduct raise further questions less than a week after The Sun newspaper alleged that he paid a teenager £35,000 to take sexually explicit images, starting when they were 17.
The person involved said there was no wrongdoing and the claims were ‘rubbish’.
BBC director-general Tim Davey today denied it was ‘strange’ that he had yet to speak to the star.
According to the BBC, the conversation between the 20-year-old and the presenter moved to another platform after starting on a dating app.
The presenter then revealed his identity and told the young man not to tell anyone.
The young man later posted online indicating contact with the BBC presenter and hinting that they could say his name.
The presenter then sent a number of ‘threatening messages’ which the BBC said they had seen and confirmed came from one of the presenter’s phone numbers.
The BBC said the young man felt ‘threatened’ and ‘scared’ by the message.
BBC News said it had contacted the presenter through her lawyer but had received no response to the allegations.
Earlier today, Mr Davey suggested that Tara’s privacy was a consideration in why the corporation did not speak to the family’s name until almost two months after receiving complaints from the teenager’s family.
He defended the seven-week delay between the initial complaint and the presenter’s encounter, insisting that claims must first be verified before being put to staff.
But he admitted it was ‘fair’ to question why the ‘very serious’ allegation was only followed up by a call and email to the girl’s parents.
Asked if it was ‘strange’ that he hadn’t chatted to the presenter himself, Davey replied: ‘No’, adding: ‘I think it’s very important that they speak to a senior manager’.
He was also asked if he knew ‘obviously’ whether the star had paid for the alleged victim’s lawyer.
He said, ‘It is not information that I belong to. I don’t think it’s something for the BBC.’
But he admitted the scandal was ‘clearly damaging’ to the corporation’s reputation.
‘The BBC is often in quite painful and difficult situations and storms,’ he said, before adding: ‘These are clearly damaging for the BBC, it’s not a good situation.’
In a major update on the case, Mr Davey also said he had ‘paused’ their internal investigation while police considered whether a crime had been committed following a meeting with Scotland Yard yesterday.