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Former BBC Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood has been granted conditional bail after appearing at Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday (Nov. 10) to face 15 charges involving seven women.
The 68-year-old hip hop radio veteran has been accused of four counts of rape, nine counts of indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault, with alleged offenses spanning more than three decades — between 1983 and 2016 — and involving women as young as 17. Three of the alleged assaults reportedly occurred at BBC studios in the 1990s.
During the brief hearing, Westwood, who returned to the UK from Nigeria last week, appeared in a dark grey shirt and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, and address. He was granted bail under the condition that he does not contact prosecution witnesses.
The alleged offenses include incidents in London’s Fulham, Vauxhall, and Finchley areas, as well as in Stroud, Gloucestershire. The Metropolitan Police said the ongoing investigation includes accusations of rape and indecent assault involving several victims across different years — from 1983 through 2016.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy acknowledged the women who have come forward, saying: “It takes courage to 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.”
Westwood, who has denied all allegations of inappropriate behavior, will next appear at Southwark Crown Court on December 8 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.
The BBC previously issued an apology after an internal review found the broadcaster “did not take adequate action” when concerns about Westwood’s behavior first surfaced.
A pioneering voice in UK hip hop radio, Westwood hosted programs on Radio 1 and 1Xtra for nearly two decades before stepping down in 2013. He later hosted on Capital Xtra until 2022 and was known for fronting Pimp My Ride UK on MTV from 2005 to 2007.
