BBC presenter avoids jail over 'Aids killing' claim

A BBC presenter was spared jail today after admitting he made up claims that he killed a former lover who was dying of Aids.

Ray Gosling, 71, was given a 90-day suspended prison sentence at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to wasting police time.

The veteran broadcaster and gay rights campaigner recorded a programme shown in February in which he claimed to have smothered a friend as he lay dying in hospital.

Today the court heard that Gosling's claims wasted around 1,800 hours of police time, costing in excess of £45,000 (€53,000).