DJ Tim Westwood pleads not guilty to rape and assault

DJ Tim Westwood pleads not guilty to rape and assault

Tim Westwood, the former DJ known for his work with BBC Radio 1 and Capital Xtra, has entered a plea of not guilty in response to multiple serious charges at a London court hearing. The 68-year-old faces accusations that include rape, sexual assault, and indecent assault. These allegations involve seven different women, some reportedly as young as 17 at the time, with incidents alleged to have occurred over a period stretching from 1983 to 2016.

Among the charges, three incidents of indecent assault are claimed to have taken place within BBC studios back in 1996. Westwood was a prominent figure on Radio 1 between the years of 1994 and 2013. During his court appearance at Southwark Crown Court, Westwood was dressed casually in black jeans and a burgundy shirt. He spoke only briefly to confirm his identity and to enter his plea. The court has granted him bail while he awaits his trial, which is scheduled to begin in January 2027.

The specific allegations against Westwood cover a range of incidents spread across several locations and years. These include an alleged indecent assault on a 17-year-old girl in Fulham in 1983, as well as another indecent assault against a woman in her twenties in Vauxhall in 1986. Between 1995 and 1996, a woman aged 17 to 18 reportedly suffered both rape and indecent assault in London. Similar charges of rape and indecent assault were made relating to incidents between 2000 and 2001 involving a young woman of the same age. Additional claims include a rape allegation from 2010 involving a woman in her twenties in London, alongside two sexual assault claims from 2010 and 2016 concerning women in their twenties in Stroud and Finchley respectively.

Tim Westwood was known for being one of the early advocates of hip-hop music in the UK. After his long tenure at Radio 1, he continued to present shows on Capital Xtra until 2022. This high-profile case marks a significant moment in his career, with the legal proceedings expected to continue until the trial commences

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More