14/09/2010

'Mercy Killing' Presenter 'Wasted Police Time'

A BBC presenter who claimed to have smothered his terminally ill lover has received a 90-day suspended sentence for wasting police time.

Ray Gosling, 71, from Nottingham, had been charged over the claim, which he made during an interview with Bill Turnbull on BBC Breakfast on February 16.

Gosling had originally made the claim in a BBC Inside Out programme, which was shown the previous evening on BBC East Midlands.

During the documentary, Gosling had claimed that he had smothered a young lover who was dying of Aids with a pillow.

Gosling was originally charged with murder, but this was later changed to wasting police time, after his confession was determined to be false.

He had pleaded not guilty earlier at Nottingham Magistrates Court, but changed his plea, following a short adjournment with his solicitor.

Gosling was also ordered to pay £200 towards court costs.

(KMcA/BMcC)

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