Prison for ex-BBC presenters who encouraged boys to take part in sexual acts

TWO FORMER BBC radio presenters have been jailed for five years for indecently assaulting a string of underage boys and outraging public decency by having sex in woodland.

Husband-and-wife Tony and Julie Wadsworth were found guilty by majority verdicts of encouraging six boys, including a teenager looking for a golf ball, to take part in sexual activity in Warwickshire between 1992 and 1996.

Sentencing Mrs Wadsworth, 60, and her 69-year-old husband at Warwick Crown Court, Judge Andrew Lockhart QC said the “grave” offences had caused emotional damage to all the victims.

Mrs Wadsworth was convicted by majority 10-2 verdicts of nine indecent assaults and five counts of outraging decency after a three-week trial.

Her husband, who acted as a ‘look-out’ during sexual activity involving his wife and a total of six youngsters, was found guilty of the same charges, also by majority verdicts.

As the verdicts were returned, Mrs Wadsworth – who was cleared of indecently assaulting one of the victims at her home – repeatedly gulped, swayed in the dock and wiped away tears with a black tissue.

Tony Wadsworth showed little emotion and handed a mobile phone to a solicitor before the couple were remanded in custody for sentencing.

At the start of the trial, prosecutor Miranda Moore QC said the Wadsworths – known to the public as Wadsworth and Mayer (Julie’s on-air surname) – had worked at the BBC’s former studios at Pebble Mill, Birmingham.

Some of the couple’s victims told the court Mrs Wadsworth was variously dressed in a “flasher’s mac” trenchcoat, white high heels, stockings, suspenders, and a split-skirt at the time of the offences near Atherstone.

Outlining the prosecution case, Miss Moore said an 11-yearold boy was among those who witnessed the couple’s offences. The BBC said the couple no longer work for the corporation.