BBC cuts ties with broadcaster Ray Gosling over 'confession'

A freelance broadcaster who admitted he made up claims that he killed his former lover in a BBC programme will not work for the corporation again, it was revealed today.

Ray Gosling was working as a freelancer for BBC East Midlands Inside Out show when he told its viewers he smothered Tony Judson with a pillow as he lay dying in hospital from Aids.

When the documentary was broadcast in February, the 71-year-old claimed he was acting out of mercy for Mr Judson.

He went on to give interviews after the show in which he repeated his claims, prompting a police investigation.

But the gay rights campaigner later admitted he made the whole thing up and was not even there when Mr Judson died.

During a hearing last month, Nottingham Magistrates' Court heard that Gosling's claims, dubbed a "tissue of lies", had cost police £45,000 and required 1,800 hours of detectives' time.

Gosling admitted wasting police time and was handed a 90-day suspended sentence.

It also emerged at the hearing that BBC producers knew about Gosling's "confession" months before the programme was broadcast - after he first told them during a "boozy lunch" in October 2009.

The BBC later apologised to viewers for broadcasting the claim but only today has it said it would not be using Gosling in future.

A BBC spokesman said: "There are no plans to use Ray Gosling."

Digby Johnson, Gosling's solicitor, declined to comment.