This is Somerset --
tristan.cork@b-nm.co.uk
The youngest of a string of teenage girls and young women was sexually assaulted by DJ Dave Lee Travis at a Showaddywaddy concert on a farm in rural Gloucestershire, a jury was told yesterday.
On the opening day of the trial of the former Radio 1 DJ and TV presenter, details emerged of the alleged attack, which is said to have taken place at the event in the summer of 1978.
The court heard Travis, who is being tried under his real name of David Patrick Griffin, is charged with 13 counts of indecent assault dating between 1976 and 2003, and one count of sexual assault in 2008. He denies all the charges.
The youngest alleged victim was a 15-year-old, who had walked eight miles to attend a Showaddywaddy concert, which took place at the Old Airfield in Moreton Valence, near Gloucester, on June 17, 1978, the court heard.
At the event, she saw the defendant standing in the door of his trailer and he invited her in for a drink, Miranda Moore QC, prosecuting, told the jury. After talking about music, Travis commented on her breasts. "He said, 'I love big boobs', and flicked her nipples," Ms Moore told the jury. Travis lifted her top over her head and pulled down her bra to expose her breasts, she added. The girl was "pinned" to her seat, Ms Moore said. "In her words, she thought he was going to rape her."
Ms Moore outlined all the alleged assaults and said the DJ was an opportunist who assaulted "vulnerable" young woman while working in the entertainment industry.
The 68-year-old carried out a series of assaults which were "sexual in nature" while working as a disc jockey, acting in pantomimes and even at the opening of a hospital radio station, it was alleged.
Opening the Crown's case, Ms Moore said women had come forward from "all parts of the United Kingdom" with similar allegations against Travis. The alleged assaults were carried out by Travis "in a work environment", including an appearance at the opening of a hospital radio station, Ms Moore said.
"The offences vary in gravity," she said. "All are sexual in nature, involving unwanted contact by this defendant on much younger women, both over clothing and under clothing," Ms Moore added.
Travis had been "opportunist" in targeting "young women who were very vulnerable", Ms Moore said.
He was arrested under Scotland Yard's Operation Yewtree, which was prompted by abuse allegations involving the late Jimmy Savile.
The first allegation described to the jury involved an indecent assault on a 19-year-old girl during a recording of Top of the Pops. Ms Moore showed the jury a short clip of the show, from 1978, in which it is alleged Travis is starting to assault a woman. The 19-year-old had travelled to the show with a friend and alleges Travis put his hand up her skirt to "touch her bum".
Ms Moore said the teenager "pulled away from him very quickly" and added that her friend was "aware of something happening".
The presenter is seen flanked by two women in the clip, one of whom is said to be the alleged victim. Her friend "remembers her being angry and upset and saying this defendant had put his hand up her skirt", the court heard.
Ms Moore said: "She was embarrassed and thought no-one would believe her. The incident was actually cut from what was broadcast."
Travis allegedly assaulted a woman working in the pantomime Aladdin in which he was appearing in Crawley, West Sussex, between November 1990 and January 1991, the court heard.
The alleged victim reported the incident to a stage manager but it was decided she would not go to the police because Travis was a "star", the prosecutor said.
Travis denied assaulting the woman, describing the allegation as "utter nonsense" and telling police he would not have "jeopardised" his first pantomime role. Reported by This is 16 hours ago.
tristan.cork@b-nm.co.uk
The youngest of a string of teenage girls and young women was sexually assaulted by DJ Dave Lee Travis at a Showaddywaddy concert on a farm in rural Gloucestershire, a jury was told yesterday.
On the opening day of the trial of the former Radio 1 DJ and TV presenter, details emerged of the alleged attack, which is said to have taken place at the event in the summer of 1978.
The court heard Travis, who is being tried under his real name of David Patrick Griffin, is charged with 13 counts of indecent assault dating between 1976 and 2003, and one count of sexual assault in 2008. He denies all the charges.
The youngest alleged victim was a 15-year-old, who had walked eight miles to attend a Showaddywaddy concert, which took place at the Old Airfield in Moreton Valence, near Gloucester, on June 17, 1978, the court heard.
At the event, she saw the defendant standing in the door of his trailer and he invited her in for a drink, Miranda Moore QC, prosecuting, told the jury. After talking about music, Travis commented on her breasts. "He said, 'I love big boobs', and flicked her nipples," Ms Moore told the jury. Travis lifted her top over her head and pulled down her bra to expose her breasts, she added. The girl was "pinned" to her seat, Ms Moore said. "In her words, she thought he was going to rape her."
Ms Moore outlined all the alleged assaults and said the DJ was an opportunist who assaulted "vulnerable" young woman while working in the entertainment industry.
The 68-year-old carried out a series of assaults which were "sexual in nature" while working as a disc jockey, acting in pantomimes and even at the opening of a hospital radio station, it was alleged.
Opening the Crown's case, Ms Moore said women had come forward from "all parts of the United Kingdom" with similar allegations against Travis. The alleged assaults were carried out by Travis "in a work environment", including an appearance at the opening of a hospital radio station, Ms Moore said.
"The offences vary in gravity," she said. "All are sexual in nature, involving unwanted contact by this defendant on much younger women, both over clothing and under clothing," Ms Moore added.
Travis had been "opportunist" in targeting "young women who were very vulnerable", Ms Moore said.
He was arrested under Scotland Yard's Operation Yewtree, which was prompted by abuse allegations involving the late Jimmy Savile.
The first allegation described to the jury involved an indecent assault on a 19-year-old girl during a recording of Top of the Pops. Ms Moore showed the jury a short clip of the show, from 1978, in which it is alleged Travis is starting to assault a woman. The 19-year-old had travelled to the show with a friend and alleges Travis put his hand up her skirt to "touch her bum".
Ms Moore said the teenager "pulled away from him very quickly" and added that her friend was "aware of something happening".
The presenter is seen flanked by two women in the clip, one of whom is said to be the alleged victim. Her friend "remembers her being angry and upset and saying this defendant had put his hand up her skirt", the court heard.
Ms Moore said: "She was embarrassed and thought no-one would believe her. The incident was actually cut from what was broadcast."
Travis allegedly assaulted a woman working in the pantomime Aladdin in which he was appearing in Crawley, West Sussex, between November 1990 and January 1991, the court heard.
The alleged victim reported the incident to a stage manager but it was decided she would not go to the police because Travis was a "star", the prosecutor said.
Travis denied assaulting the woman, describing the allegation as "utter nonsense" and telling police he would not have "jeopardised" his first pantomime role. Reported by This is 16 hours ago.