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Dave Lee Travis tells court: 'I'm not exactly Sherlock Holmes' Dave Lee Travis tells court: 'I'm a normal decent human being. I cuddle people'
(about 1 hour later)
Former Radio 1 disc jockey Dave Lee Travis told his trialthat he is "not exactly Sherlock Holmes" as he was accused ofchanging his version of events surrounding sex offence claims. Former Radio One disc jockey Dave Lee Travis has told his trial he is “astonished” at sex offence allegations against him and told jurors he is a “normal, decent human being”.
The veteran DJ told jurors he was telling them the truth, and if what he said in court differed from what he told police, it was due to the "stress and strain" of being questioned by officers. Becoming increasingly angry as he was cross-examined, Travis denied indecently assaulting 10 women and sexually assaulting another in incidents dating back to 1976 and the height of his fame.
The former BBC presenter, known as DLT, has repeatedly denied indecently assaulting 10 women and sexually assaulting another in incidents dating back to 1976 and the height of his fame. “Suddenly I'm a great predator,” he told jurors at London's Southwark Crown Court.
During heated cross-examination by prosecutor Miranda Moore QC at London's Southwark Crown Court, Travis, now 68, was questioned about claims that he groped a female colleague while working at Chiltern Radio in the early 2000s. “These things did not happen. I don't know how I can convince you that they did not happen.
”I'm a normal, decent human being. I play jokes on people. I cuddle people. And if there have been some sexual interactions in the past, it's been consensual.
“It's been suggested that women threw themselves at me - thank God most of them missed.”
Appearing under his birth name David Griffin, the 68-year-old also became annoyed when questioned by prosecutor Miranda Moore QC about claims he grabbed a female journalist's breasts after asking her to pose for suggestive photographs.
“I'm a professional in my photographic life. I'm a professional in my broadcasting life.
”I do not want to touch the breasts of anybody, let alone anybody who works for the press. That would be suicide.
“I have not been groping people for 40 years,” he said.
Ms Moore said: “It's got you written all over it Mr Griffin. Because you've been doing it for years and getting away with it.”
The defendant, known as DLT, replied: “I've not been doing it for years. I've not been getting away with it.”
Earlier, the former disc jockey was accused of changing his version of events surrounding sex offence claims.
He told jurors he was telling them the truth, and if what he said in court differed from what he told police, it was due to the "stress and strain" of being questioned by officers.
Asked why he told police that he did not remember any complaints being made against him, but now said he did accept that his boss had told him that a woman had accused him of touching her leg. Travis told jurors: "I'm clever enough to be a DJ and do my own stuff on the radio or on TV, but I'm not exactly Sherlock Holmes and I can't exactly work out the best way of telling a story.Asked why he told police that he did not remember any complaints being made against him, but now said he did accept that his boss had told him that a woman had accused him of touching her leg. Travis told jurors: "I'm clever enough to be a DJ and do my own stuff on the radio or on TV, but I'm not exactly Sherlock Holmes and I can't exactly work out the best way of telling a story.
"My best way of telling a story is to tell the truth. I'm telling you the truth now.""My best way of telling a story is to tell the truth. I'm telling you the truth now."
Pressed on why his account had changed, Travis became angry as he told Ms Moore: "I have never been arrested in my life and so I considered that I was feeling a little bit shaky about that."Pressed on why his account had changed, Travis became angry as he told Ms Moore: "I have never been arrested in my life and so I considered that I was feeling a little bit shaky about that."
Travis denied he touched his colleague inappropriately, telling jurors it was normal for him to greet his colleagues with a "bear hug".Travis denied he touched his colleague inappropriately, telling jurors it was normal for him to greet his colleagues with a "bear hug".
"I was not aware that she had a problem with being touched," he said."I was not aware that she had a problem with being touched," he said.
Ms Moore accused Travis of feeling the woman's breasts. Travis, from Buckinghamshire, denies 13 charges alleging indecent assaults and one of sexual assault.
"That is completely false," Travis said. "It's such a short move from touching somebody's shoulder to maybe touching their breasts as well." The charges relate to allegations from when he was working as a BBC DJ, as a broadcaster with Classic Gold radio, while appearing on Top Of The Pops and when starring in panto.
Questioned further, Travis said he might have accidentally touched her legs during an argument they had. The trial continues
He said testily: "I didn't do anything to her. I may have touched her legs with my hands or with my knees but it's not something l 'did' to her, it was due to the close proximity of our faces."
Travis also became agitated as Ms Moore put it to him that his colleagues at the radio station avoided having to make eye contact with him.
"Nobody ever put their heads down when I walked in the newsroom - ever."
Travis, from Buckinghamshire, denies 13 indecent assaults and one sexual assault.
Appearing under his birth name David Griffin, Travis faces charges relating to offences alleged to have occurred when he was working as a BBC DJ, as a broadcaster with Classic Gold radio, while appearing on Top Of The Pops and when starring in panto.
The trial was temporarily adjourned as Travis needed to take painkillers for his bad back.
Following the break, Travis was asked by Ms Moore about an incident where he was alleged to have put his hand up a teenage girl's skirt as they travelled in a car on the way back from a corporate event where he was the DJ.
Asked if he was there "to get the party started", Travis replied: "I think the party would be going even without me.
"I suppose I was supposed to be the extra bit on top of the cake."
"Were you a good DJ?" Ms Moore asked.
"Still am," Travis replied.
Asked if he was popular, Travis said: "Yes, I was at the time."
Denying the incident in the car ever happened, Travis said the woman had "made it up".
"She dreamt it," he added.
"I have no idea really why it's come about.
"But I can say without a doubt: it did not happen."
The trial continues.
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