BBC Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood Charged With four counts of Rape

© Tom Blewitt – Predator Awareness

Former BBC Radio 1 and Capital Xtra DJ Tim Westwood has been formally charged with four counts of rape, nine counts of indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault, the Metropolitan Police confirmed this week. The charges relate to seven women, with alleged offences occurring between 1983 and 2016.

Westwood, 68, is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 10 November. The earliest charge involves the indecent assault of a 17-year-old girl in Fulham, London, in 1983. The oldest rape allegation concerns a female victim aged between 17 and 18, allegedly attacked in London between 1995 and 1996.

Official charges include:
– Four counts of Rape.
– Nine counts of indecent assault
– Two counts of sexual assault

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) stated that the decision to prosecute was based on sufficient evidence and public interest. Chief Crown Prosecutor Lionel Idan emphasized the importance of preserving the integrity of the legal process:

“Our prosecutors have established that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

The Crown Prosecution Service reminds everyone that criminal proceedings are active, and the defendant has the right to a fair trial.

It is extremely important that there be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings”

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of the Metropolitan Police praised the bravery of the women who came forward:

“It takes courage to come forward and report allegations of this nature. The women who have done so have put their trust in us and we continue to provide them with all available support.”

He also appealed for additional witnesses to contact investigators.

Westwood, a prominent figure in UK hip-hop broadcasting, began his career in local radio before joining Capital Radio in the late 1980s. He moved to the BBC in 1994, where he hosted the first nationally-broadcast rap show on UK radio. He left the BBC in 2013 and later joined Capital Xtra, departing in 2022.

In April 2022, BBC News aired a documentary featuring 18 women who accused Westwood of predatory and unwanted sexual behaviour, with incidents allegedly occurring between 1992 and 2017. Westwood has consistently denied all allegations of misconduct.

The case has reignited scrutiny over the BBC’s responses to misconduct allegations. A 2023 independent review commissioned by the BBC concluded that Westwood’s behaviour was “entirely incompatible with BBC values”, and criticized the corporation for failing to identify a “pattern of behaviour” due to treating incidents in isolation.

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