Tim Westwood has appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to allegations of rape and sexual assault.
The former BBC DJ showed up at Southwark Crown Court on Monday (December 8), faced with 15 charges of alleged sexual abuse. Accusations are said to have taken place between 1983 and 2016, and the victims are women who claim to have been in their late teens and early 20s at the time.
One alleged victim claims that Westwood indecently assaulted her three times at BBC Studios in the 1990s, and other claims include accusations of rape at a London hotel, sexual assault at a London festival, and other claims of kissing, groping and forcing himself onto the women without consent.
All together, there are four counts of rape he is facing, as well as nine counts of indecent assault and two of sexual assault.
During the court appearance, the 68-year-old appeared in the dock to enter a plea of “not guilty” to all charges levelled against him.
According to a report from The Standard, the Recorder of Westminster, Judge Tony Baumgartner, will now set a date for a trial, and the former Radio One presenter will remain on bail during this time, and not allowed to contact any of the witnesses in the case.
Westwood stepped down from his Capital Xtra radio show shortly after the initial allegations emerged, and has consistently denied all claims raised against him.
Commenting on the case earlier this year, Lionel Idan, Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: “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.”
