UPDATE: 11.20 a.m. GMT (03.20 a.m. PT): BBC News is now reporting that the teenager at the center of the Scott Mills sexual offenses investigation was under the age of 16.
Earlier this morning, it was reported that Mills was investigated nearly 10 years ago over allegations of serious and historic sexual offences against a teenage boy in the late 1990s. That case was closed due to lack of evidence.
PREVIOUS: More details have emerged about top BBC radio presenter Scott Mills, who was sacked by the BBC over the weekend.
According to The Daily Mirror, Mills, who hosted the popular Radio 2 Breakfast Show, was questioned in 2018 over allegations of serious and historic sexual offences against a teenage boy, which were alleged to have happened 20 years before. That case was dropped due to lack of evidence.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman didn’t name Mills per UK law but said that in December 2016 it had investigated “allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy.” “These were reported to taken place between 1997 and 2000,” it added. “As part of these enquiries, a man who was in his 40s at the time of the interview, was questioned by police under caution in July 2018. A full file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, who determined the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges. Following this advice, the investigation was closed in May 2019.”
The man being referred to is being reported to be Mills. The BBC has only said Mills’ contract was terminated over the weekend and has not confirmed the reports.
Mills’ firing broke yesterday morning, blindsiding BBC colleagues and Radio 2 listeners.
Mills took over from Zoe Ball presenting one of the BBC’s most popular shows, the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show, last year. The 53-year-old, who was paid nearly £360,000 ($476,000) last year, had for nearly 20 years prior presented the Scott Mills Show on BBC Radio 1 and is one of the most familiar voices on BBC radio.
His sacking comes after a string of incidents involving current and former BBC stars including Gregg Wallace, Tim Westwood, Russell Brand and Huw Edwards.
Mills’ shock firing has come with just days to go until Director General Tim Davie exits the BBC. His replacement, Matt Brittin, may have to put out the fire if the scandal extends and turns into a longer-term review. Acting DG Rhodri Talfan Davies told staff yesterday the news is a “a shock to our audience.”
We have reached out to Mills’ agent for comment.