Tears of DJ Fox as he is cleared of sex abuse
Senior magistrate urges caution over claims that happened ‘so long ago’ as DJ is acquitted
Disc jockey Neil Fox wept as he left court with his wife, Vicky, after being cleared of sexually abusing female colleagues and teenage fans throughout his 29-year radio career. Westminster magistrates threw out 10 charges against Fox despite saying that they ‘believed each of the complainants’.
BRITAIN’S most senior magistrate questioned the pursuit of historic sex attack cases yesterday as the radio host Neil Fox attacked prosecutors after being cleared of abuse charges.
The 54-year-old, known to millions as “Dr Fox”, hinted that he could sue the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) after being found not guilty of abusing female colleagues and teenage fans throughout his 29-year radio career.
He is now hoping to return to work at Magic FM, one of two radio stations which allegedly kept allegations against him secret for a decade.
Yesterday, senior district judge Howard Riddle, England and Wales’s chief magistrate, threw out 10 charges against Fox despite saying the panel “believed each of the complainants”.
“The most difficult aspect of this case was most of the allegations were historical,” he said. “While the events were undoubtedly memorable for the complainants, it’s appropriate to approach with caution accounts which happened in a brief period of time so long ago.”
Fox wept in court as the not guilty verdicts were returned, before saying: “This case has once again raised concerns about how high-profile cases such as this have been investigated by the CPS.”
Paul Gambaccini, Fox’s fellow broadcaster, who was also arrested over historic claims before charges were thrown out, called for the Metropolitan Police commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, to resign.
The case was the first high-profile abuse case to be tried by magistrates instead of a jury since the Jimmy Savile scandal began.
Mr Riddle said his verdict should not be “taken as a criticism of the decision to bring this prosecution” – but said: “We believed each of the complainants and the question we must ask is whether we are sure of the facts alleged.”
He said claims that Fox kissed a colleague on the shoulder did not amount to sexual assault, and cleared the DJ on the rest of the charges on his account of the alleged attacks. “In the case of the most recent allegation, we are sure it happened, but are not sure that it amounts to the criminal offence of sexual touching. In the other cases, we either cannot be sure the incident occurred as described or we cannot be sure that in the context it was a criminal offence, namely indecent assault or in one case sexual touching.”
At the height of his fame, Fox, who unusually chose to have his trial heard by magistrates instead of a jury, was watched by millions each week as a judge on ITV’s Pop Idol, and was lauded as a “god” of commercial radio.
But when allegations first surfaced against him in 2007, radio bosses swept them under the carpet to protect the “money-maker” star, Westminster magistrates’ court heard.
Outside the court, Mr Fox said he “cannot wait to be broadcasting again”. But Bauer Media, which owns Magic FM, said it “will be taking some time to reflect on the outcome of the trial”.
One of the accused, employed by Magic, had claimed Fox tickled her so vigorously that her top fell down, before thrusting and simulating sex with her on a sofa.
Another complaint was made about his behaviour to a former employer in 2003 – but Fox told the court no complaints about his behaviour with women had ever been raised with him.
Fox insisted gropes at work had been “dreadfully misinterpreted” and were just part of “banter” between fun-loving colleagues. He also claimed three teenage fans who complained were “fantasists”.
The DJ was found not guilty of two charges of indecent assaults on teenage girls, as well as four indecent assaults on a Capital Radio colleague, and two sexual assaults on women at his current job at Magic FM.
Fox shared an emotional kiss and hug with his wife Vicky before declaring: “Today I have been vindicated. It
‘Today I have been vindicated. It has been a long, hard and stressful 14 months though’
has been a long, hard and stressful 14 months though, and a lot has been said and written about me in that time that over the next few days, weeks and months will need to be addressed and rectified.”
The CPS said: “Taking all the evidence into consideration and in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, it was decided that there was sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that it was in the public interest to prosecute this case. We respect the decision of the court.”