Former Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood charged with four counts of rape

Trigger warning: This article contains information relating to sexual assault and rape.

Former BBC Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood has been charged by the Metropolitan Police on four counts of rape, according to The Guardian.

The Metropolitan police said the charges that have been brought against the broadcaster also relate to two counts of sexual assault and nine counts of indecent assault. Westwood is due to appear at Westminster magistrates court next month.

Police said the charges relate to sexual offences against seven women carried out between 1983 and 2016. They added that the investigation remains open and urged anyone with further information to contact them.

Speaking about the proceedings, 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.”

Among the offences is the alleged rape of a female aged between 17 and 18 in London between 1995 and ’96, and a reported sexual assault of the same girl during a similar period.

The other alleged offences include the indecent assault of a 17-year-old girl in the Fulham area of London in 1983; the sexual assault of a woman in her 20s in Vauxhall in 1986; and the sexual assault of another woman in her 20s in Stroud in 2010.  The most recent charge is related to the alleged sexual assault of a woman in her 20s in Finchley in 2016.

Speaking about the investigation, Det Supt Andy Furphy, of the Metropolitan police, said: “It takes courage to come forward and report allegations of this nature. The women who have done so have put their trust in us and we continue to provide them with all available support.

“Our investigation remains open and we’d encourage anyone who has been impacted by this case, or anyone with information, to come forward and speak with us. Any reports will be dealt with in the strictest confidence by specialist officers.”

The Guardian and BBC News both published accounts from 18 women in 2022, accusing the former Radio 1 DJ of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour. Westwood said he “strongly denies all allegations of inappropriate behaviour” when those accounts were originally published.

Westwood broadcast shows across BBC Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra for almost 20 years before leaving the BBC in 2013. He subsequently stepped down from his hip-hop and rap-focused radio show on Capital Xtra in April 2022.