Scott Mills Allegedly Maintained Friendship with Teenage Boy After Complaint
The former BBC Radio 2 breakfast show host, Scott Mills, reportedly remained friends with the person at the centre of a Metropolitan Police investigation for years after allegations relating to a relationship with a minor were first made. The claims, which are said to have occurred between 1997 and 2000, involve a teenage boy who was under 16 at the time.
Police Investigation Closed Without Charges
Mills was questioned by police in 2018 over historical allegations of serious sexual offences, following an investigation that began in 2016. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) closed the case in 2019, citing insufficient evidence to bring charges. Despite this, the BBC terminated Mills' contract last week after receiving compelling new information about his personal conduct.
Ongoing Friendship Until 2006
A source speaking to The Sun revealed that the teenager remained friends with Mills until 2006, years after the alleged offences. The source stated, "A lot of Scott's friends knew about this lad. Scott stayed in touch with him, and I first heard about him in 2001." They added that Mills was "friendly" with the boy and that the two were "still in contact until around 2006," suggesting they were on good terms.
BBC's Decisive Action
The BBC confirmed that it was made aware of the police investigation in 2017 and has since acted decisively. A spokesperson said, "In recent weeks, we obtained new information relating to Scott and we spoke directly with him. As a result, the BBC acted decisively in line with our culture and values, and terminated his contracts on Friday March 27." Mills was replaced on his show by Gary Davies before his contract was terminated.
Mills' Statement and Legal Response
Mills' lawyers provided a statement to The Mirror, confirming that the Metropolitan Police's statement related to him. It read, "An allegation was made against me in 2016 of a historic sexual offence which was the subject of a police investigation in which I fully cooperated and responded to in 2018." He expressed hope that the public and media would respect his wish not to comment further, thanking supporters for their kindness.
BBC's Ongoing Review
The BBC has pledged to conduct further work to understand the detail of what was known by the organisation at the time of the investigation. They stated, "We are doing more work to understand the detail of what was known by the BBC at this time," highlighting their commitment to transparency and accountability in handling the matter.
