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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Tara Cobham

Former BBC DJ Tim Westwood denies rape and assault charges

Former BBC Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood has denied multiple charges of rape, indecent assault and sexual assault.

The 68-year-old has been accused of committing offences against seven women as young as 17 years old between 1983 and 2016, including three indecent assaults at the BBC studios in the 1990s.

Westwood, of Westminster, pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape, nine counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court on Monday morning.

The court heard that the former Capital Xtra DJ is alleged to have raped women, kissed them and touched their bodies without consent.

Westwood appeared in the dock wearing a maroon shirt and black trousers, and spoke only to enter his pleas and to confirm his name.

Westwood is accused of four indecent assaults in the 1980s in London as well as three indecent assaults at the BBC in the 1990s.

The defendant is also alleged to have raped a woman in a hotel in 1996.

Westwood is further accused of two indecent assaults and one count of rape from the early 2000s at a London address, and two counts of rape at a London address in the 2010s.

He is also alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman at a nightclub in Stroud, Gloucestershire, in 2010.

The former DJ arrived at court wearing a black hooded coat over a maroon shirt and black trousers (Getty Images)

Westwood pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.

A provisional trial date of January 25 2027 was set by the court.

He was granted bail with a condition to not contact the complainants.

Westwood previously arriving for the NME Awards (PA Archive)

The BBC Board previously apologised following a review, which said the corporation “did not take adequate action” after learning of concerns regarding the hip hop DJ’s alleged behaviour.

Westwood stepped down from his show on Capital Xtra in April 2022 and left Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra in 2013 after nearly 20 years at the BBC. He also presented the MTV UK car makeover show Pimp My Ride UK, which ran for three seasons from 2005 to 2007.

Westwood is the son of the former Anglican bishop of Peterborough, Bill Westwood, who died in the 1990s.

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