THE BBC star suspended over sex claims has been accused of breaking the law by defying the third national lockdown to meet a young stranger from a dating site.
The TV personality allegedly ignored strict Covid rules even though his own network was broadcasting round-the-clock coverage of the pandemic, which claimed the lives of almost 227,000 in Britain.
The Sun has seen messages which suggest that — as well as visiting the 23-year-old’s home — the star sent cash, and asked for a picture. He was sent a semi-naked photograph.
The person, who the presenter met, told The Sun last night: “The BBC were briefing the nation on the rules — when their star who was part of the institution was quite happy to break them.”
The BBC and the presenter have been approached for comment. The Sun will be handing its evidence over to the BBC’s investigation.
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In an interview, the youngster told how the star travelled across London to another county to meet them at their flat in February 2021.
They said they first met the presenter in November 2020 on a dating site.
A month later the conversation then moved to WhatsApp.
The dating site user, who has given The Sun a sworn statement, told us: “I got a message from him from an account that didn’t have his picture.
“We started chatting and I didn’t know it was the star at the time.
“When he told me his name and what he did I put two and two together.”
The stranger, who can’t be identified, said the TV host pressed for a face-to-face encounter.
It comes as...
- The BBC presenter started a chat with a 17-year-old follower on Instagram - using love hearts and kisses in his messages
- The BBC reported that another youngster has claimed the presenter sent them 'threatening and abusive' messages
- Jeremy Vine has called on the well-known BBC star to name himself as the presenter at the centre of the scandal
‘I fobbed him off but he became so persistent’
The young person said the presenter discussed meeting straightaway — although England was in a strict three-tier system which advised the public not to travel to an outside area.
They added: “He was always asking to meet and I found it quite pressurising. There were restrictions and they kept getting stricter but he constantly asked.”
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Tier 3 was put in place when there was a “very high” alert over the virus.
But the BBC star apparently refused to heed the guidance, with the young person saying: “He wanted something to happen”.
In messages seen by The Sun the presenter asked the youngster on December 12, 2020: “Maybe let me know which days might work next week.”
He then later said in the conversation: “I’ll make it work.”
But when the day of the meet came, the presenter said: “I think tomorrow is tricky. I’m nervous with T3 restrictions.”
The youngster told us: “You could tell he was trying to find the right time so he didn’t get in trouble.”
On December 18, 2020 the presenter asked: “Did you say next week not good for you?”
The youngster replied: “No I’m good for next week. I thought you didn’t want to come because of restrictions.”
The presenter wrote: “Well I shouldn’t but I really want to.”
The youngster said: “I kept fobbing him off but he became so persistent.
“He then started getting really demanding when I made excuses not to meet him.
“There was a barrage of messages and if I didn’t agree to meet he would say he felt unwanted and I had to explain myself constantly. His attitude changed completely.”
On January 15, 2021 — days after Britain’s third national lockdown was announced — the presenter said to the youngster in a WhatsApp message: “I’ve been as patient as I can. I’m not used to being turned down like this. Sorry.”
The youngster replied: “The other week I had the virus badly…I can always come into London as well if that’s an option.”
The star said: “Yes, when lockdown is over as we can go places to eat or drink etc. In the meantime I want to visit you. I am off today which is why I messaged. I am working next week.”
The youngster recalled to The Sun: “I wanted to just meet up and go for a nice drink but he kept insisting to come to mine.
“I finally gave in and arranged to meet — nearly two months after we had started speaking properly.”
On February 18, 2021 the star travelled on public transport to meet the youngster — from Paddington to Liverpool Street and then a second train out of London.
He even sent a picture making a point of how most people were at home because of Covid, writing: “Weird empty stations.” He later said in a series of detailed messages about his travel: “Hi, Tube delayed. I’ll have less time with you but at least we can meet.”
Only a few weeks earlier PM Boris Johnson had announced the country’s third national lockdown in a special live broadcast on BBC television, watched by millions.
The public were told they could not leave their local area and could only travel for work.
Meeting from outside your household or bubble was against the Coronavirus regulations. Mr Johnson had told the nation: “Now more than ever, we must pull together.”
The route out of lockdown didn’t start until March 2021.
The star’s web date said: “He came round for an hour.
“I was quite shocked that he broke the rules to come and meet me because of who he is. I was just a random person online.
“We just chatted. He was obsessed with me making him a cup of tea.”
When he left the flat, he wrote to the youngster: “I didn’t want to leave either. I really liked your company. Next time I’ll stay longer.”
On the day of the visit, he sent the youngster a “present” of £200 — one of three payments made to a PayPal account. The others were for £200 and £250.
The youngster said: “He gave me cash three times.
“Although he started to make me feel like he owned me because he was giving me money. He was always talking about his career and was very arrogant.”
The presenter also sent selfies in the BBC studios in work time, and boasted about his famous friends. The dating app user said they felt “uncomfortable” with the presenter’s demanding messages — and felt “used”.
They said: “I just felt like he thought he could treat me like I was at his disposal.”
The source wanted to speak out to “let people know the truth”.
They added: “It is complete hypocrisy of the BBC star. He thought he was above everybody else.
“The BBC points the finger at others who do wrong but their big star was happy to act like the rules don’t apply to him.”
