Police question Clarkson 'assault' witnesses as ex-Top Gear star DEFENDS 'fracas' producer

POLICE today revealed they have interviewed witnesses about the 'assault' that led to Jeremy Clarkson's sacking by the BBC, as the presenter himself DEFENDED the producer at the centre of the 'fracas'.

Jeremy ClarksonPA

Jeremy Clarkson could be replaced by Chris Evans, according to reports
The 54-year-old said he wished people would leave Top Gear crew member Oisin Tymon, who received death threats on Twitter, alone as "none of this was his fault".

Mr Tymon was left with a split lip after an "unprovoked attack" by the Clarkson, which led the BBC to decide not to renew his contract yesterday.

It comes as North Yorkshire Police said they had been contacted by "concerned members of the public" over what was initially described by the BBC as a "fracas".

Clarkson refused to directly answer reporters' questions when asked outside his London home today whether he was concerned about being arrested.

Instead he said: "All I would like to say is ... I wish people would leave Ois alone because none of this was his fault."

Earlier in the day Clarkson was asked as he left his home what he would like to say to fans saddened by his departure from Top Gear.

He said: "Everybody's upset."

Insiders previously told the Express that Mr Tymon bore the brunt of Clarkson's fury during the "fracas" after he could not have a steak dinner at a hotel he stayed at.

The presenter, who spent 26 years on Top Gear in two separate stints, is believed to have blamed Mr Tymon for not making the hotel's chef stay until he returned from a day of filming.

After an investigation the BBC said yesterday that Clarkson "struck" Mr Tymon and the producer was also subject to a "verbal attack".

Mr Tymon later drove himself to hospital following the "unprovoked physical attacK" which lasted 30 seconds.

The incident occurred on March 4 this year at the Simonstone Hall Hotel in North Yorkshire.

**CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES OF FORMER TOP GEAR HOST JEREMY CLARKSON**

jeremy clarksonGETTY

Clarkson was suspended following a 'fracas'

North Yorkshire Police said today they have spoke to potential witnesses as they have "a duty to investigate" the incident involving Clarkson and the Top Gear producer.

The force said: "No-one who was present at the hotel during the incident came forward to report an offence to the police.

"Nonetheless, we have a duty to investigate where we believe an offence might have been committed, and that is what we have been doing with this case.

"We have already spoken to some people who were in the hotel at the time, but there are still others we need to speak to, who could help us to determine exactly what happened.

"Also, as is usual in these circumstances, we have made contact with Mr Tymon through his lawyers, to ask him to speak to us so we can ascertain how he wishes to pursue this matter.

"When these routine inquiries are completed, we will be able to assess whether or not further action needs to be taken from a police perspective.

"Meanwhile, we'd like to reassure the public that the matter is in hand, and we dealing with it responsibly and proportionately."

North Yorkshire Police yesterday said they were "liaising with the BBC" shortly after the BBC announced that Clarkson had been dropped from Top Gear.

oisin tymonBBC

BBC producer Oisin Tymon

The sacking was revealed mere hours after the controversial presenter took to Twitter to inform fans that he has still not "heard a thing" from BBC producers regarding his fate on the popular motoring show.

However, the corporation later released a statement confirming with "great regret" that Clarkson's contract with them would not be renewed.

The outspoken star also acknowledged the decision by changing his Twitter bio to: "I used to be a presenter on the BBC2 motoring show, Top Gear."

The BBC's Director General Tony Hall said: "It is with great regret that I have told Jeremy Clarkson today that the BBC will not be renewing his contract.

"It is not a decision I have taken lightly. I have done so only after a very careful consideration of the facts and after personally meeting both Jeremy and Oisin Tymon."

But he added that a "line has been crossed" and said that there cannot be "one rule for one and one rule for another".

He continued: "The BBC is a broad church. Our strength in many ways lies in that diversity. We need distinctive and different voices but they cannot come at any price. Common to all at the BBC have to be standards of decency and respect."

Describing Clarkson as a "huge talent", Mr Hall concluded by stating "none of us wanted to find ourselves in this position" and hoped that the decision would "in no way detract from the extraordinary contribution that Jeremy Clarkson has made to the BBC".

The BBC investigation found that during the altercation Clarkson left Mr Tymon with "swelling and bleeding to his lip".

The Beeb said the attack only stopped when a witness intervened.

The report described how "verbal abuse was directed at Oisin Tymon on more than one occasion - both during the attack and subsequently inside the hotel - and contained the strongest expletives and threats to sack him".

Jeremy Clarkson on a bikePA

Jeremy Clarkson made his first public appearance since being sacked as night fell

The abuse was at such volume that it could be heard "in the dining room, and the shouting was audible in a hotel bedroom", the report continued.

The report added that following the attack, Mr Tymon drove himself to a "nearby A&E department for examination".

It also stated that Clarkson reported himself to the BBC and had tried to apologised to the producer "by way of text, email and in person".

Mr Hall said "no blame" was attached to Mr Tymon and added that the BBC would look to renew the show for next year.

The incident took place on the patio area of the Simonstone Hall Hotel.

The team were on a location shoot there, after travelling from an earlier studio recording of Top Gear which had taken place in Surrey.

Later yesterday evening as night fell Clarkson made his first public appearance since being sacked.

He left his upmarket west London home on a push bike wearing a black leather coat and a grey beanie hat.

Riding past photographers and TV cameras, he said: "Excuse me gentlemen, thank you."

jeremy clarksonGETTY

Clarkson has yet to comment on his sacking

Asked by reporters what his reaction was, Clarkson said "I'm off out, sorry" before riding away.

It is unclear if Clarkson's co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond will stay with the BBC2 programme after their contracts run out at the end of this month, along with Clarkson's.

Hammond yesterday said on Twitter that he was "gutted at such a sad end to an era" after his co-presenter's sacking.

He added: "We're all three of us idiots in our different ways but it's been an incredible ride together."

Meanwhile, May said he would have to give his future on the BBC2 show "careful thought".

He added that "as much as I think he is a k***, I quite like working with Jeremy".

Speaking outside his London home, he said: "I don't really have anything to say about it. It's a tragedy.

"I'm sorry that what ought to have been a small incident sorted out easily, turned into something big, but I don't want to say anything more than that as I have only known for the past few minutes.

Asked if the decision was fair he said: "It's probably within the law and their hands were tied.

"I'm sure Top Gear will continue in some way. It existed before us and has been reformatted several times."

James May, Richard Hammond and ClarksonWENN

James May, Richard Hammond and Clarkson during the Top Gear Live Tour earlier this year

Mr Tymon yesterday described Clarkson as a "unique talent" and said he was "well aware that many will be sorry his involvement in the show should end in this way".

But he added that he was "grateful" for the "thorough and swift investigation into this very regrettable incident".

Clarkson, 54, is thought to have been considering his options after his suspension from the corporation two weeks ago following the "fracas".

In response to Clarkson's sacking, a Downing Street spokesman said that David Cameron, who referred to Clarkson as a "huge talent" when the row over his behaviour erupted, believes "aggressive and abusive behaviour" is not acceptable in the workplace.

At a briefing in Westminster, the spokesman said: "What the Prime Minister would say is if you do something wrong at work there can be consequences. Aggressive and abusive behaviour isn't acceptable in the workplace or elsewhere.

"Obviously the BBC has undertaken its investigation and it has reached its decision and Jeremy Clarkson has to face the consequences of that."

Tina Wisener, of workplace law specialist Doyle Clayton, said the BBC "really had no choice" but to sack Clarkson.

She added: "Physical assault on a colleague is grounds for dismissal for gross misconduct in itself.

"However, Clarkson already had a final written warning following allegations of racism last year, meaning that any further act of misconduct could result in dismissal.

"Failing to dismiss him would not only have meant the BBC losing face, but it would also have left the BBC vulnerable to claims for unfair dismissal from other employees dismissed in similar circumstances or for lesser offences."

James May Reaction: Sacked Clarkson Could Face Police Action

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