Bristol Post

Claims DJ denies sexual misconduct allegation­s

- Rom PRESTON-ELLIS rom.preston-ellis@reachplc.com which aired on BBC Three last night. It is available to watch on iPlayer.

VETERAN hip-hop DJ and radio presenter Tim Westwood “strongly rejects all allegation­s of wrongdoing” after he was accused of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour by several women.

In allegation­s made to the BBC and the Guardian, the former BBC Radio 1 DJ, 64, is alleged to have misused his position in the music industry to take advantage of seven women who were in their late teens or early 20s at the time.

Three women have accused the DJ of opportunis­tic and predatory sexual behaviour, while four others allege they were groped by him at events, including at a Bristol Carnival afterparty, according to the Guardian.

It’s claimed that in 2000, Westwood put his hand down a woman’s top after the carnival and “grabbed” her breast while they were gathered for a group photograph.

A statement from a representa­tive to the PA news agency said: “Tim Westwood strongly denies all allegation­s of inappropri­ate behaviour. In a career that has spanned 40 years, there have never been any complaints made against him officially or unofficial­ly.

“Tim Westwood strongly rejects all allegation­s of wrongdoing.”

The DJ, who is the son of Bill

Westwood, the former Anglican Bishop of Peterborou­gh who died in 1999, began his career with local radio before joining Capital Radio in London, and was later given his own show by BBC Radio 1.

Tim Westwood strongly denies all allegation­s of inappropri­ate behaviour. In a career that has spanned 40 years, there have never been any complaints made against him officially or unofficial­ly Representa­tive’s statement

He was injured in a drive-by shooting in Kennington, South London, on July 18 1999, which left him in hospital. In 2013, Westwood left BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra after nearly 20 years and returned to Capital Radio.

He presents a regular show on Saturday nights on Capital Xtra, where he is referred to as ‘The Big Dawg.’

Often cited as an inspiratio­n for Sacha Baron Cohen’s fictional Ali G character, Westwood presented the MTV UK car makeover show Pimp My Ride UK, which ran for three seasons from 2005 to 2007.

The women, who have remained anonymous, detail their allegation­s in a documentar­y, Tim Westwood: Abuse of Power,

 ?? ?? Veteran hip-hop DJ and radio presenter Tim Westwood
Veteran hip-hop DJ and radio presenter Tim Westwood

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