London, Thanasis Gavos

Three more complaints of inappropriate messages were made against him yesterday Hugh Edwardsthe well-known and popular BBC TV presenter named as the person accused of making payments to a minor for nude photos.

The latest complaints were made by two current and one former BBC employee, who said they received inappropriate “suggestive” messages from the presenter, sometimes at late hours and with comments about their appearance.

They said they felt the messages constituted an “abuse of power” and made them feel uncomfortable.

Mr Edwards was named by his wife, TV producer Vicky Flint, who said her husband was in hospital following a serious mental health episode following the allegations. Edwards, 61, has previously spoken about his battle with severe depression.

Criticism, however, is now also accepted by Sun newspaperwhich published the original complaint against the journalist.

The criticism follows the conclusion by London’s Metropolitan Police and South Wales Police that no criminal offense has been established against Edwards, which is interpreted as a lack of evidence of possession of indecent images of a minor.

The Sun blamed other media outlets, including the BBC, for focusing on the potentially criminal aspect of the case, claiming that there was never any mention of criminal charges in the newspaper’s reports.

This position has been derided by columnists in other media, who point out that if the payment by Edwards to a minor for photographs was true, as the Sun claimed citing the child’s involvement, then it would automatically be a criminal offence.

The Sun added in a spokesman’s statement that it would not publish any further allegations against Edwards and that it would hand over to the BBC the “file” it has on the case.