‘Top Gear’ producer will not press Clarkson charges

Irish Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon will not be pressing charges of assault against sacked BBC presenter Jeremy Clarkson.

The Irishman has faced much abuse on social media since Mr Clarkson’s dismissal from the popular BBC2 programme, which is the broadcaster’s biggest international earner.

In a statement, Mr Tymon’s lawyer Paul Daniels of Slater and Gordon, said: “I have been asked to issue a statement on behalf of my client Oisin Tymon regarding police inquiries in this matter.

“Mr Tymon has informed the police that he doesn’t want to press charges. The events of the last few weeks have been extremely unpleasant for everyone involved. The matter has taken a great toll on Oisin, his family and his friends.

“Quite simply, Mr Tymon just wishes to return now to the job at the BBC he loves, as soon as possible. Further, the BBC have, in his view, taken action with a view to addressing the issues at hand.

Top lawyer

“Mr Tymon agrees with the BBC’s stated view that all parties should now be allowed to move on, so far as possible,” said Mr Daniels, who is considered one of London’s top employment lawyers.

North Yorkshire police had opened an investigation into the incident at the Simonstone Hall in Hawes in early March, during which Mr Clarkson admitted to an internal BBC inquiry that he had struck Mr Tymon and shouted at him.

Mr Tymon’s decision not to press charges does not guarantee that Mr Clarkson will not be taken to court, but it does reduce sharply the likelihood that a file will be sent to the Crown Prosecution Service.

North Yorkshire police said they would take the Irishman’s decision “fully into account”, but will complete some outstanding interviews with others who were in the hotel that night.

Police had contacted Mr Tymon earlier this week to ask how he wished them to proceed, but, in a statement, said Mr Clarkson’s action had been raised with them already by others.

On Thursday, Mr Clarkson, who could face significant difficulties working in the United States if he was prosecuted and convicted, urged fans of the programme to stop abusing Mr Tymon. “I wish people would leave Oisin alone, because none of this is his fault,” said the presenter, adding that the producer had been “a top guy” during the years in which they had worked together.

Mr Clarkson's fellow presenters on the programme, James May and Richard Hammond, have yet to confirm their next step, though in their initial reactions they indicated they would quit the programme.

The Radio Times has quoted sources saying that Sky Television would not be prepared to offer a home to Mr Clarkson, believing that such a hire would embroil it in a public controversy.