BBC manager in child abuse Zoom shame

A BBC worker who watched child abuse shared on a Zoom call was let off with a suspended jail term.

Project manager Duncan Wheelhouse, 58, claimed the images of child abuse, including that of a baby, “surprised” him.

This was rejected by a judge at Kingston Crown Court, who heard that Wheelhouse performed a sexual act on himself and made comments about the footage while watching in the video meeting.

Judge John Lodge QC said: “The defendant, rather than indicating, ‘ Why are we watching images of child abuse?’, participates in the chat room – indicating to people in it he shares such proclivities they might have in respect of those children.”

Wheelhouse, who has worked in TV for over 40 years, was sacked by the BBC after his arrest.

His lawyer David Burgess said: “He has been shunned by his former colleagues, his employers, his friends, and in many ways he remains a lonely gay man.

“It’s unlikely he will work again. His future looks gloomy.”

Wheelhouse was caught when the National Crime Agency linked his online activity to his Soho flat. He now lives in Oxford. He got a fourmonth suspended sentence and must do rehab and offenders’ courses and sign the sex offenders register.