Tony Livesey steps back from 5 Live after allegations against David Sullivan

Tony Livesey steps back from 5 Live after allegations against David Sullivan18 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleSteven McIntoshBBCTony Livesey presents a topical interview and phone-in programme on BBC Radio 5 LiveBBC presenter Tony Livesey has stepped back from his 5 Live show following allegations against his former colleague David Sullivan.Several women have accused Sullivan, a billionaire businessman and West Ham co-owner, of abusing his power and preying on them for sex, in some cases when they were teenagers. Sullivan has strongly denied the allegations.Livesey previously worked as editor-in-chief of Sullivan's Sport newspapers and now presents a weeknight show on BBC Radio 5 Live. The BBC said Livesey had asked to take a break from presenting the show while the issues raised by the investigation are being examined.The claims against Sullivan were made in a joint investigation by the Times and BBC Panorama.One alleged victim said that Livesey had arranged a meeting between her and Sullivan in 1999.Livesey said he had "no recollection" of introducing the young woman to Sullivan and that it was "not part" of his job to do so. He added that he had "great sympathy for a woman who may have become a victim", but rejected any suggestion that he had played "any role whatsoever in that scenario" and said he found the allegation "abhorrent".Livesey told the Times he had had "practically zero" contact with anyone appearing in the paper, such as female models.A BBC spokesman said: "The Panorama investigation included allegations about Tony Livesey which we take seriously. We also note Tony has firmly denied the allegations. "He has asked to step back from presenting his radio show for a short period and we will be considering the matters raised by the programme. We will not be commenting further at this stage."'He said I could be one of his special friends': Ex-model tel...