Scott Mills, the former BBC Radio 2 presenter, reportedly maintained contact with his alleged sex abuse victim for eight years following the claimed offenses between 1997 and 2000. The BBC terminated his contract last week after receiving new information about his conduct.
Extended Contact with Accuser
Sources familiar with Mills during the 2000s indicate that the presenter and the accuser, described as a ‘lad,’ remained friendly well after the alleged incidents. They first learned of the individual in 2001, and contact reportedly continued until around 2006.
“They used to see each other, and Scott was friendly with him like he was with a lot of people,” a source stated. “I’m sure they were still in contact until around 2006; it suggests they were still on good terms.”
Police Investigation Details
Allegations of serious sexual offenses against a boy aged 13 to 16 surfaced in 2016 with Hampshire Police. The case transferred to the Metropolitan Police in December 2016. Mills, then at Radio 1, attended questioning at a London station in 2018 without arrest.
Investigators submitted evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service, which decided in 2019 that charges were not warranted due to insufficient evidence. The probe involved claims of non-recent offenses where Mills and the complainant reportedly met online.
Mills Breaks Silence
In a statement released through his lawyers, the 53-year-old confirmed his involvement in the investigation. “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,” Mills said.
He noted the case dated back nearly 30 years and 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,” he added, thanking supporters, colleagues, and listeners.
BBC’s Knowledge and Action
The BBC learned of the police probe in 2017 and had multiple contacts with the Metropolitan Police from then until recently. Officials terminated Mills’ contracts on March 27, 2026, following new information obtained in recent weeks.
A BBC spokesperson explained: “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.” The corporation acknowledged prior awareness of the investigation, which closed without charges, and pledged to review internal processes.
Ongoing Scrutiny
Questions persist over why Mills continued broadcasting despite the known probe and interviews under caution in 2018-2019. In May 2025, former BBC presenter Anna Brees contacted executives about alleged inappropriate communications involving Mills but received no response.
The BBC later admitted: “We received a Press query in 2025 which included limited information. This should have been followed up and we should have asked further questions. We apologise for this.”
