According to Ahlul Bayt News Agency (ABNA.ir) – The 70-year-old Nottingham-based presenter claimed in a documentary about mercy killings in the BBC Inside Out program broadcasted on 15 February that he had smothered his former lover who had been laying in hospital dying of Aids.
The Police is said to have spent £40,000 (over $62,000) on an investigation in to Gosling's claims. The investigation involved 32 police officers and lasted for six months.
A court in Nottingham has sentenced him to 90 days in prison, suspended for 12 months. Moreover, he is sentenced to pay £200 for prosecution costs.
District Judge John Stobart however said he wished he could compensate the police for the amount of money they have spent, adding he did not have the powers to do so.
"This case of wasteful employment of police time is as bad a case of its type as I have seen," said Judge Stobart adding, "You know the power of television celebrity, and the trust that the public and TV producers have in you to match this with the responsibility of identifying and telling the truth to the public."
Gosling who denied the charge earlier in the hearing, changed his plea after a short adjournment with his solicitor and said "Digby Johnson, my solicitor, tells me technically I am guilty," quoted the BBC.
Analysts say such an incident could have a negative impact on the BBC viewership since it will be difficult for people to trust comments made by its presenters.
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