DJ Tim Westwood pleads not guilty to rape and assault
Tim Westwood, a former DJ at BBC Radio 1 and Capital Xtra, has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape, indecent assault, and sexual assault during a London court hearing. The 68-year-old faces four counts of rape, nine counts of indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault.
These charges pertain to seven women, some of whom were allegedly as young as 17 years old at the time of the incidents, which allegedly occurred between 1983 and 2016.
Three instances of indecent assault allegedly took place in BBC studios in 1996. Mr. Westwood hosted shows on Radio 1 from 1994 to 2013.
He appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Monday morning and was granted bail until his trial, set to begin in January 2027.
In court, he dressed in black jeans and a burgundy shirt, and only spoke to confirm his name and enter his pleas.
He is charged with the following offences:
- In 1983, a 17-year-old girl was allegedly indecently assaulted in the Fulham area of London.
- In 1986, a woman in her 20s was allegedly indecently assaulted in the Vauxhall area of London.
- Between 1995 and 1996, a female between the age of 17-18 was allegedly raped in London. It is also alleged that the same woman was indecently assaulted in central London within the same timeframe.
- Between 2000 and 2001, a female between the age of 17-18 was allegedly raped and indecently assaulted in London.
- In 2010, a woman in her 20s was allegedly raped in London.
- In 2010, a woman in her 20s was allegedly sexually assaulted in Stroud.
- In 2016, a woman in her 20s was allegedly sexually assaulted in the Finchley area of London.
Mr Westwood was an early champion of hip-hop in the UK and, after leaving Radio 1, hosted a show on Capital Xtra until 2022.
Source: BBC
