At a glance
• DJ Tim Westwood has appeared in court for the first time over rape and sexual assault charges
• The former BBC star denies allegations of sexual abuse across more than three decades
• Westwood is accused of indecent assault on BBC premises in the 1990s
DJ Tim Westwood has appeared in court to face rape and sexual assault charges for the first time, including claims of abuse at BBC studios.
The 68-year-old former Radio One presenter faces allegations spanning more than three decades, with his accusers saying they were abused when in their late teens and early 20s.
Westwood, who lives in Westminster, faces 15 charges dating from 1983 to 2016.
The DJ was flanked by security and police as he arrived at Westminster magistrates court building, wearing a dark puffer jacket and jeans.
He was spotted breaking court rules shortly after passing through security, by taking pictures on his phone of his own court listing.
In the dock, Westwood spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address, and did not enter any pleas to the charges.
When asked at the end whether he could hear properly, Westwood told the judge “not really”. He nodded as his bail condition was confirmed.
According to court papers, he is accused of indecently assaulting an alleged victim three times at the BBC Studios in the 1990s.
Westwood faces allegations of rape at a London hotel, as well as a claim of sexual assault at a London music festival.
According to the charges, he is accused of kissing alleged victims without consent, groping them, and forcing himself on to the women.
In total, he faces nine counts of indecent assault, two counts of sexual assault, and four counts of rape.
The court heard Westwood flew in to the UK from Nigeria ahead of his court appearance. He was informed of the charges in August.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring released Westwood on bail until a hearing at Southwark crown court on December 8.
The DJ is not allowed to contact prosecution witnesses, as the single condition of his bail.
His barrister, Orla Daly, told the court that Westwood has been interviewed five times during the course of the police investigation, he is a man of good character, and he has co-operated throughout the period of facing allegations.
Suffolk-born Westwood, the son of an Anglican Bishop, joined BBC Radio One in 1994 to present a rap show, and continued to be one of the Corporation’s stars on the channel and 1Xtra until his departure in 2013.
The court case comes with the BBC in crisis, after edited footage of President Donald Trump forced the resignations of the Corporation’s Director General Tim Davie and news chief executive Deborah Turness.
Announcing details of the case last month, the CPS said the charges against Westwood “relate to reported non-recent offences between 1983 and 2016, involving seven women.”
The allegations come after a lengthy Metropolitan police investigation into the DJ, who was once one of BBC Radio 1’s biggest stars.
Scotland Yard said Westwood is accused of indecently assaulting a 17-year-old girl in Fulham in 1983, and sexually assaulting a woman in her 20s in Vauxhall, south London in 1986.
He is accused of raping and sexually assaulting a teenager aged 17-18 in central London in the mid-90s, and raping and sexually assaulting another teen of the same age between 2000 and 2001.
The Met said Westwood is accused of raping a woman in her 20s in 2010 in London, allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in her 20s in Stroud in the same year, and sexually assaulting another woman in her 20s in Finchley, north London in 2016.
After leaving the BBC, Westwood launched a show on Capital Xtra, but he was stood down when allegations of sexual misconduct were first made.
The hip-hop DJ has previously strongly denied "all allegations of inappropriate behaviour" and wrongdoing.
Westwood began his career as a DJ in the early 1980s, performing at clubs and pirate radio stations in London. He gained prominence on LWR, Kiss FM and Capital Radio, where he helped to introduce UK listeners to emerging hip-hop acts from both sides of the Atlantic.
He has been credited with championing UK rap and grime, giving early exposure to artists such as Skepta, Stormzy, and Giggs.
Westwood has won a number of MOBO awards and hosted the UK version of MTV’s Pimp My Ride.
Government fails to back BBC chair keeping job amid Trump speech 'fake news' storm
Celebrity Traitors will return for a second series in 2026, BBC announces
Ex-police chief in court charged with fraud over ‘false military service claims’
Woman who was stabbed in the neck in Birmingham dies of her injuries
