BBCPresenter Scott Mills has confirmed he was investigated over a sexual offence, in his first statement since he was sacked from the BBC over allegations relating to his personal conduct.
In a statement, Mills said the announcement of his sacking had led "to the publication of rumour and speculation". The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation in 2016 before closing it in 2019 after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) deemed there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.
"Since the investigation related to an allegation that dates back nearly 30 years and the police investigation was closed seven years ago, I hope that the public and the media will understand and respect my wish not to make any further public comment on this matter," the former BBC Radio 2 presenter said.
The allegations, first published in the Mirror, are reported to have happened between 1997 and 2000, police said, when Mills would have been in his mid-twenties.
On Monday, it was announced that the former Radio 1 presenter had been sacked by the BBC over allegations related to his personal conduct. The BBC has not given any further details over the allegations and it is not clear what, if any, role the police investigation played in his sacking.
The 53-year-old said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon: "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.
"As the police have stated, a file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which determined that the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges."
He added: "I wish to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who have reached out to me with kindness, my former colleagues, and my beloved listeners, who I greatly miss."
Earlier on Wednesday, the BBC confirmed it knew about the sexual offences investigation in 2017.
But in a statement, a spokesperson added that the Radio 2 presenter was sacked after "new information" about his conduct came to light in recent weeks.
The statement from the BBC came after mounting pressure on the broadcaster to explain what led to the Radio 2 DJ's sudden departure.
It said it was "doing more work to understand the detail of what was known by the BBC" at the time.
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