Business News Legal Media

Dave Lee Travis sexual assault trial begins

By Andy Malt | Published on Wednesday 15 January 2014

Radio DJ Dave Lee Travis appeared at Southwark Crown Court yesterday, accused of thirteen counts of indecent assault and one of sexual assault between 1976 and 2008.

As previously reported, Travis, real name David Griffin, was originally questioned by police in late 2012 as part of the ongoing Operation Yewtree police investigation, which was sparked by accusations against the late Jimmy Savile. Following his initial arrest, more women came forward, increasing the number of alleged victims to eleven – the youngest fifteen at the time she claims to have been assaulted.

Since the initial allegations went public, Travis has always strongly denied all the charges against him. However, at yesterday’s hearing, prosecutor Miranda Moore QC told the jury that he was an “opportunist” who targeted “young women who were vulnerable”.

The Guardian reports that one alleged incident happened on a live edition of ‘Top Of The Pops’, when Travis is said to have groped a nineteen year old woman as he introduced a song by The Smurfs. Another, backstage at a pantomime in Crawley, was allegedly interrupted when one of the Chuckle Brothers walked past Travis’ dressing room, as he pinned a woman up against the door and put his hand down her jogging bottoms.

The youngest victim claims that she met the DJ at a Showaddywaddy concert, where he told her “I love big boobs” before flicking her nipples and attempting to remove her top. Showaddywaddy frontman Dave Bartram is expected to give evidence at the trial.

Some of the accusations come from fellow broadcasters, a BBC trainee saying that he fondled her breasts as she introduced ‘Woman’s Hour’ on Radio 4, while a former colleague at Chiltern Radio accuses him of sexually assaulting her.

The jury were played recordings of police interviews with Travis. In one, discussing groping a BBC colleague, he insisted that the claims were fabricated, saying: “If you live in a sweet shop you don’t eat sweets”.

In a busy day for Operation Yewtree-related court appearances, Rolf Harris also appeared at Southwark Crown Court yesterday to enter a plea of not guilty to sexual offences, and ‘Coronation Street’ actor Bill Roache began his trial at Preston Crown Court. Meanwhile entertainer Freddie Starr was arrested for a third time by Operation Yewtree officers to be questioned about new allegations made against him.

Travis’ trial will continue this morning.