Police to probe BBC gunman's cash claim

Published on Saturday 10 January 2009 18:53

MERSEYSIDE Police is to investigate claims made in court by a teenage gang member that he was paid £50 by a fixer to brandish guns on the BBC's Panorama programme, the force said yesterday.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified because of his age, was filmed assembling a shotgun for the programme about guns and gang culture on Merseyside.

A Merseyside Police spokeswoman said: "We are investigating claims made by the 17-year-old in court about the fixer. We are going to look at who was involved in that transaction and whether we can identify the people involved in that transaction."

The teenager, a member of the Marsh Gang, was approached by an intermediary and paid the cash to "show off" the weapons on camera, Liverpool Crown Court heard on Friday.

The 17-year-old pleaded guilty on December 11 last year to possession of a shotgun, a handgun and ammunition.

Jason Smith, defending the youth, told the court: "The defence contention is not that he was paid directly by the Panorama film producers, but he was paid money by an intermediary who had been paid money to fix it on their behalf."

Smith said the intermediary, referred to in court as Male C, was a leading figure in the Marsh Gang.

The lawyer said: "On the evening of June 30 last year the defendant was offered 50 by Male C to collect some guns and go in front of the TV cameras to make threats and show off on behalf of the Marsh Gang.

"After collecting the guns, he went to a location where he met Male C and a cameraman and was told to show off the weapons.

"It is not suggested that the BBC or the cameraman suggested he show off the firearms."

Ian Davies, prosecuting, said the Crown accepted the teenager's version of events and the trial was adjourned for sentence on January 23.

A Merseyside Police spokeswoman said yesterday: "Following the broadcast of Panorama: Young Gunmen on June 30, last year, Merseyside Police investigated both the criminal actions of individuals posing with guns and whether there was any substance to rumours that money had been exchanged.

"As a result, a 17-year-old appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, having previously pleaded guilty to possession of two firearms and ammunition.

"During the hearing on Friday, the 17-year-old defendant claimed that he had not been paid by the BBC, but had received money from an intermediary.

"The BBC provided information during the inquiry which indicated compliance with their editorial policies.

"Merseyside Police will continue its investigation following the claims by the 17-year-old defendant, to identify those involved in alleged transactions and any offences that have been committed."

Following Friday's hearing, the BBC said it made no payments to the gunman and the programme maker, Chameleon Productions in Leeds, abided by editorial guidelines.

Second thoughts

A comedy writer who sparked controversy by creating an atheist campaign on public transport, yesterday broadcast a non-religious version of the BBC's Thought For The Day.

Ariane Sherine gave a humanist Thought For The Afternoon on Radio 4's iPM programme. Sherine is behind a poster campaign on buses in England, Scotland and Wales and on the London Underground telling people: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

The controller of Radio 4, Mark Damazer, has said he wants Thought For The Day, on the Today programme, to be restricted to believers.