DJ Travis denies being ‘opportunist’ sex offender

FORMER Radio One DJ Dave Lee Travis was an “opportunist” sex offender who attacked “vulnerable” young women, a court has heard.

Travis, 68, indecently assaulted one 19-year-old victim during a recording of Top of the Pops, Southwark Crown Court was told yesterday

The broadcaster, real name David Griffin, is also alleged to have attacked women while working as a disc jockey, acting in pantomimes and at the opening of a hospital radio station.

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A jury of eight women and four men was told that, in one incident at a local radio station, a woman went “ballistic” after he allegedly forced his thumb into her underwear.

Travis, from Buckinghamshire, is charged with 13 counts of indecent assault between 1976 and 2003, and one count of sexual assault in 2008. He denies all the charges.

Opening the Crown’s case, prosecutor Miranda Moore QC showed the jury a short clip of Top Of The Pops from 1978, in which it is alleged Travis is starting to assault a woman.

“The incident was actually cut from what was broadcast,” Ms Moore said. “She says that is the start of him trying to put the hand up her skirt.”

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Travis was arrested under Scotland Yard’s Operation Yewtree, which was prompted by abuse allegations involving Jimmy Savile, the court heard.

Ms Moore said women had come forward from “all parts of the United Kingdom” with allegations against Travis.

In one incident, Travis allegedly assaulted a woman working in the pantomime Aladdin in which he appeared in Crawley, West Sussex, between November 1990 and January 1991, the court heard.

The alleged victim reported the incident to a stage manager but did not go to the police because Travis was a “star”, the prosecutor said.

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Three counts relate to two women who worked at Chiltern FM between 2000 and 2003.

Travis worked as a DJ at Chiltern, Ms Moore said, and was “sexually assaulting” one woman and other colleagues on a “regular basis”.

The jury was also told about an alleged incident involving Travis, not included in the charges against him, at the opening of a hospital radio station.

Travis put his hand in the skirt of a young woman crowned “deputy carnival princess” before touching her breast, Ms Moore said.

“She thought he was a big name and what Dave wanted was what Dave got,” the prosecutor added.

The trial is due to last up to six weeks.

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