Former Radio 1 DJ Dave Lee Travis has been found guilty of indecent assault while working in the BBC’s studios in Manchester.
The ex-Top of the Pops presenter could face a maximum of ten years in jail after being found guilty of groping a woman who was working on the Mrs Merton Show, in 1995.
Travis was found guilty by a majority of ten to two at London’s Southwark Crown Court yesterday.
But the 69-year-old was cleared on a second indecent assault charge and the jury was discharged after it was unable to agree a verdict on a count of sexual assault.
However, Judge Anthony Leonard QC warned the former radio star that he was looking at ‘all options’ for sentencing, which has been adjourned until Friday morning.
During the trial, Travis’s victim told the court that he got a ‘weird sexual thrill’ as he indecently assaulted her on January 17 1995.
She said Travis approached her in the corridor of a BBC television studio and squeezed her breasts for around 10-15 seconds.
The woman, who was working as part of the production crew in Manchester, said she ‘froze’ as she was pinned against the wall by Travis.
She said she found the assault ‘unbelievably weird’ and Travis had an ‘intense stare’ during the incident.
Travis was cleared of 12 counts of indecent assault at his original trial in February after he was initially arrested in October 2012 under Operation Yewtree – which was set up in the wake of into historic sexual abuse after allegations against the late DJ Jimmy Savile came out.
Travis also faced a retrial on two counts which the jury was unable to reach verdicts on.
One was indecent assault of a woman between November 1 1990 and January 31 1991 – on which he was found not guilty
On another, of sexual assault on a different woman between June 1 2008 and November 30 2008, the jury was unable to reach a verdict.
Judge Leonard told Travis: “You must understand that all my options remain open in relation to sentencing.”
Travis replied: “I understand. Thank you, your honour.”
Mark Castle, chief executive of the charity Victim Support, said: “Today’s conviction is a vindication for all victims of indecent assault who were attacked by someone so famous that they feared they would never get justice.
“We hope this verdict will encourage anyone who has been a victim of this crime to seek help.”
The DJ was born in Buxton and his family moved to Manchester where he attended Manchester Central Grammar School for Boys before starting his career in the city.
He became a household name in the 70’s working on Radio 1 and hosting Top of the Pops.
Image courtesy of ITV, via YouTube, with thanks
