Parents accusing BBC star of sex pictures scandal ask how their child afforded lawyer
The presenter at the heart of the allegations has not yet been named - but the couple are standing by their claims.
Justice Secretary Alex Chalk on BBC presenter allegations
The parents of the teenager allegedly paid £35,000 by a BBC presenter in exchange for explicit pictures have accused the BBC of lying about what they knew about the case - as well as asking how their child was able to afford a lawyer.
The couple say they are motivated by a desire to help the now-20-year-old, who they say first met the television star aged 17 and used the cash to buy crack cocaine.
The individual in question has denied their allegations, according to a lawyer who contacted the corporation yesterday.
However, their mother and stepfather told The Sun: 'It is sad but we stand by our account and we hope they get the help they need. We did this to help - and the presenter has got into their head.
"How did they afford a lawyer? We are so sad."
The stepfather added: "Without the money, my partner's child would have no drugs." He added that he had spoken to the BBC "for an hour in May".
He also claimed the BBC was "'not telling the truth" with claims it had been investigating a complaint since May, but that new claims of a "different nature" were brought to it on Thursday.
He said: "I told them the youngster was 20 and it had been going on for three years.
"I told the BBC I had gone to the police in desperation but they couldn't do anything as they said it wasn't illegal. They knew all of this.
"Without the money, my partner's child would have no drugs."
In a letter reported by BBC News At Six, the young person said via a lawyer: "For the avoidance of doubt, nothing inappropriate or unlawful has taken place between our client and the BBC personality and the allegations reported in The Sun newspaper are 'rubbish'."
The legal representative also said the young person told The Sun on Friday evening before the newspaper published the story that there was "no truth to it", the BBC reported.
The lawyer called the article on the front page "inappropriate", the news show said.
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BBC News said it does know the identity of the young person and has not spoken to them directly, but that the letter was sent by a multinational law firm.
Tim Davie, the BBC's director-general, will today to face the media for a scheduled briefing after the release of the corporation's annual report - with questions about the ongoing controversy certain to dominate the agenda.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today waded into the debate, telling reporters on the plane to the Nato summit in Lithuania: "They were shocking, concerning allegations, of course they were.
"The Culture Secretary spoke to the director general, I think it was on Sunday.
"And he has reassured that the process they are undertaking is vigorous and will be swift, so we've had those reassurances.
"And I think that is the right thing to do because, given the concerning nature of the allegations, it is right that they are investigated swiftly and rigorously.
"And it is important we now let that carry on."
Asked if he had been told who the BBC presenter in question was, Mr Sunak replied: "No. But I've been reassured that the process will be conducted vigorously and swiftly."