It seems like rumours and suspicions have solidified today. So I was genuinely interested to see who was presenting the 10 o’clock news this evening – and how the current BBC-related story was covered.

  • Leraje@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Whole situation is getting weirder and weirder. The young person at the middle of all this has now issued a letter via a lawyer (and a well known lawyer too) saying they’d contacted The Sun prior to publication denying anything inappropriate took place and that he and his mum were estranged.

    Then the step-dad said they’d put all the allegations to the BBC for over an hour when a few days ago the parents claimed they hadn’t spoken to anyone from the BBC.

    God knows what the truth of all this is but I don’t think its as straightforward as it first appeared.

    • Arrakis@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      The cynical part of me is assuming the presenter is paying the lawyer/coaching the kid on what to say, and this is just damage control to try and save their career/reputation.

      • Leraje@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        Probably. There’s just something a bit off about all this.

        We might not ever know for sure. If the young man isn’t going to go to the Police then there’s not much they can do. If he’s denying anything illegal or even inappropriate took place I’m not sure if the parents have any way to proceed do they?

        • Arrakis@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          I wouldn’t think there would be a reason to proceed if the victim says they aren’t actually a victim (but I don’t know much about law!). I don’t imagine The Sun would have cared about “seeking justice” or whatever the parents say they want, only the sniff of sellable pseudo-scandal.

          • Leraje@lemmy.world
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            11 months ago

            I honestly wouldn’t trust The Sun if they reported grass was green.

            I’d assume the Police will at least want to interview the young man but if he continues to deny it all I guess we’ll never hear the man officially be named.

          • Hogger85b@kbin.social
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            11 months ago

            I’m not saying anything at all even happened …but if somthing did, soliciting a minor (under18) is illegal even if the victim “consents” the law says they can’t. Like you can’t volunteer to be murdered.

            • Arrakis@lemmy.world
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              11 months ago

              Isn’t it only soliciting a minor when they’re under the age of consent (16)? From what I’ve read on this story, the only crime is the creation of images since they weren’t legally an adult at 17. (I could be wrong though!)

              • Hogger85b@kbin.social
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                11 months ago

                Ianal but think it is 18 if any sort of payment is involved…also if taking pictures is involved.

                It’s a stupid paradox of UK law that you can have sex at 16 but not send a picture until 18

                So if they were just in a relationship with no payments and no pictures it would be legal.

    • Ace_of_spades@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Fun fact. That crack head kid was somehow able to hire lawyers that have previously represented the queen. Boy must have some connections.