The radio DJ Neil Fox has admitted he engaged in “saucy, cheeky, over-the-top” banter and “horseplay” in the workplace but has denied any inappropriate behaviour.
Speaking at Westminster magistrates court, Fox said he had never been the subject of a complaint in his 29-year broadcasting career until his arrest in September last year.
The 54-year-old was defending himself against eight counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault. The DJ, also known as Foxy and Dr Fox, is alleged to have exploited his fame to sexually abuse three girls aged under 16 between 1988 and 1996. He denies all allegations.
The trial began in November but resumed on Wednesday after a three-week break.
One of the complainants has alleged that she met Fox when she was 14 and that he wrote “nice bum” on the back pocket of her jeans when she had asked for an autograph.
The court heard her recorded testimony on Monday, alleging that the pair had then “snogged” and that in a later incident he had performed a sex act on her during a tour of the Capital Radio record library when she was 15.
Another alleged victim claimed that when she was 15 the radio DJ put his hand up her skirt at a classic car show in 1991. Three women have also accused Fox of assaulting them when they worked with him at Capital Radio and Magic FM, with one alleging that he squeezed her breasts and pushed her over a desk to simulate a sex act.
Under questioning from his defence counsel, Jonathan Caplan QC, Fox described the “fast, crazy, frenetic pace” at the radio station, where behaviour such as slapping bottoms and piggybacks was common. He said his entire shifts, not just the on-air periods, constituted a “full performance” and his colleagues would often make playful comments to one another.
Responding to questioning whether these comments could be considered “edgy or sexual”, Fox replied: “Of course they could. Like any office. Some of it could be saucy, cheeky, over the top.”
The DJ said there was also “horseplay”, which involved “piggybacks, tickling and squeezing”. But he insisted he would never have engaged in such conduct if it was not consensual, “otherwise it would create a bad atmosphere in the studio”.
Fox admitted that many people in the workplace would also pretend to have been caught in sexually compromising positions but said he had “no recollection” of simulating a sex act with the alleged victim.
Fox said: “There was a lot of Carry On-style, Benny Hill humour in that … building.
“There were times when I could have easily walked past and slapped her bum as people would have mine, when you walk past someone in a small studio.
He added: “It was in a playful spirit, in a playful way that I don’t think anyone is going to be offended by.”
Fox told the court he had worked with hundreds of female colleagues over his broadcasting career at both Capital and Magic radio stations and no issues over his behaviour had ever been raised in almost three decades.
“I’ve never had any complaints, I hate bullies. The atmosphere was always a friendly camaraderie, a team regardless of age or sex,” he said.
Addressing the allegations that he had insisted a Capital Radio colleague let him touch her breasts, Fox said: “That would be wholly wrong, totally disrespectful, and it’s not something I would do.”
Fox told the court he thought the culture of radio had noticeably changed over the past 25 years. “Laws have changed. HR has changed. Political correctness has changed,” he said.
“But I don’t think my behaviour has changed,” he added. “I’m the same guy now, with the same morals, as I was then.”
Before the trial began, the prosecution announced that it would not be pursuing five counts of indecent assault that Fox had been charged with.
The trial continues.
