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Dave Lee Travis acquittal raises more questions for CPS Dave Lee Travis acquittal raises more questions for CPS
(about 17 hours later)
The former BBC Radio 1 DJ Dave Lee Travis on Thursday became the third high-profile entertainer to be cleared of sexual assault charges in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal, prompting further questions for prosecutors about claims of a "celebrity witch-hunt".The former BBC Radio 1 DJ Dave Lee Travis on Thursday became the third high-profile entertainer to be cleared of sexual assault charges in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal, prompting further questions for prosecutors about claims of a "celebrity witch-hunt".
Travis said he had been through a "year and a half of hell" after he was found not guilty of 12 indecent assaults on nine women dating back to the height of his fame in the mid-1970s.Travis said he had been through a "year and a half of hell" after he was found not guilty of 12 indecent assaults on nine women dating back to the height of his fame in the mid-1970s.
A jury of eight women and four men took nearly 22 hours to clear the veteran broadcaster of the charges.A jury of eight women and four men took nearly 22 hours to clear the veteran broadcaster of the charges.
Travis's acquittal follows those of the Coronation Street actors William Roache and Michael Le Vell in separate trials in the past year, in the wake of the Savile scandal, which triggered a public outcry over sexual abuse in October 2012.Travis's acquittal follows those of the Coronation Street actors William Roache and Michael Le Vell in separate trials in the past year, in the wake of the Savile scandal, which triggered a public outcry over sexual abuse in October 2012.
Throughout his four-week trial at Southwark crown court in London, Travis's legal team had argued that he was the victim of a "witch-hunt" and was a scapegoat for Savile's crimes.Throughout his four-week trial at Southwark crown court in London, Travis's legal team had argued that he was the victim of a "witch-hunt" and was a scapegoat for Savile's crimes.
But Travis put those accusations to one side when he walked out of the court on Thursday afternoon, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with his wife Marianne before the pair fought their way past a media scrum into a car that drove them back to their home in Bedfordshire.But Travis put those accusations to one side when he walked out of the court on Thursday afternoon, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with his wife Marianne before the pair fought their way past a media scrum into a car that drove them back to their home in Bedfordshire.
"First of all I'm not over the moon about any of this today," he told the television cameras. "I don't feel there's a victory in any way shape or form. On the contrary, I've been through a year and a half of hell with this, which includes costing me so much money to pay for my part of this trial, proving the point that not all famous people have got loads in the bank, so I had to sell my house to do it. That's OK because I know there's a lot of people who are worse off than me."First of all I'm not over the moon about any of this today," he told the television cameras. "I don't feel there's a victory in any way shape or form. On the contrary, I've been through a year and a half of hell with this, which includes costing me so much money to pay for my part of this trial, proving the point that not all famous people have got loads in the bank, so I had to sell my house to do it. That's OK because I know there's a lot of people who are worse off than me.
"I did lose my reputation as well, which I may try to get back later. I want to say I had two trials: one by media and one by crown court and I have to say in all honesty that I preferred trial by crown court."I did lose my reputation as well, which I may try to get back later. I want to say I had two trials: one by media and one by crown court and I have to say in all honesty that I preferred trial by crown court.
"All I want to do now is go home, relax with my wife and daughter who has also been suffering with me.""All I want to do now is go home, relax with my wife and daughter who has also been suffering with me."
Travis kept his emotion under wraps as the not guilty verdicts were returned, marking his acquittal with a thin smile and a glance at the press bench. His wife, Marianne, was also subdued as she sat next to her husband's former personal assistant, Margaret Merritt, a former backing singer of the 1970s pop band Pickettywitch, in the public gallery of the court.Travis kept his emotion under wraps as the not guilty verdicts were returned, marking his acquittal with a thin smile and a glance at the press bench. His wife, Marianne, was also subdued as she sat next to her husband's former personal assistant, Margaret Merritt, a former backing singer of the 1970s pop band Pickettywitch, in the public gallery of the court.
Travis was told by the judge, Anthony Leonard, that he remains on police bail before he stepped out of the court dock to stand with his wife. The 68-year-old broadcaster faces the prospect of a re-trial over two charges on which the jurors failed to reach verdicts.Travis was told by the judge, Anthony Leonard, that he remains on police bail before he stepped out of the court dock to stand with his wife. The 68-year-old broadcaster faces the prospect of a re-trial over two charges on which the jurors failed to reach verdicts.
The former BBC Radio 1 star has consistently protested his innocence since he was arrested at his home in Mentmore, Bedfordshire, under Scotland Yard's Operation Yewtree inquiry in November 2012. The former BBC Radio 1 star has consistently protested his innocence since he was arrested at his home in Mentmore, Buckinghamshire, under Scotland Yard's Operation Yewtree inquiry in November 2012.
His arrest stemmed from allegations made by two women to police during the Savile scandal in October 2012. Several more women came forward to police following publicity around his arrest and an impromptu press conference the DJ held at the gates of his house, in which he strongly denied the women's allegations.His arrest stemmed from allegations made by two women to police during the Savile scandal in October 2012. Several more women came forward to police following publicity around his arrest and an impromptu press conference the DJ held at the gates of his house, in which he strongly denied the women's allegations.
Eleven women told the court they had been groped by the DJ in settings including the Top of the Pops studio, a VIP trailer at a Showaddywaddy concert, and live on BBC Radio 4 and Radio 1.Eleven women told the court they had been groped by the DJ in settings including the Top of the Pops studio, a VIP trailer at a Showaddywaddy concert, and live on BBC Radio 4 and Radio 1.
At the time of the alleged attacks, Travis was a hugely popular BBC Radio 1 DJ who went on to front Top of the Pops and make guest appearances as a DJ up and down the country. His accusers were as young as 15 at the time of the alleged incidents.At the time of the alleged attacks, Travis was a hugely popular BBC Radio 1 DJ who went on to front Top of the Pops and make guest appearances as a DJ up and down the country. His accusers were as young as 15 at the time of the alleged incidents.
But over four days on the witness stand, the broadcaster said the allegations were made up and the fantasies or exaggerations of women who could "smell money" from selling their story to the press. "These things didn't happen. I don't know how I can convince you they didn't happen. I'm a decent human being. I cuddle people, I make jokes with people. If there's been sexual interactions it was always consensual," he told jurors in one exasperated exchange.But over four days on the witness stand, the broadcaster said the allegations were made up and the fantasies or exaggerations of women who could "smell money" from selling their story to the press. "These things didn't happen. I don't know how I can convince you they didn't happen. I'm a decent human being. I cuddle people, I make jokes with people. If there's been sexual interactions it was always consensual," he told jurors in one exasperated exchange.
The prosecutor, Miranda Moore QC, painted the DJ as an opportunistic sexual predator who, in the environs of the BBC in the 1970s and 80s, was able to get away with his actions because no women dared complain.The prosecutor, Miranda Moore QC, painted the DJ as an opportunistic sexual predator who, in the environs of the BBC in the 1970s and 80s, was able to get away with his actions because no women dared complain.
But a stream of former PAs, BBC colleagues, the Chuckle Brothers and even Pan's People pin-up, Patricia "Dee Dee" Wilde, came to court to give glowing character testimonies in his defence. Travis's barrister, Stephen Vullo, emphasised to the jury that these witnesses had described Travis as a gentleman and far from the sexual predator the prosecution alleged.But a stream of former PAs, BBC colleagues, the Chuckle Brothers and even Pan's People pin-up, Patricia "Dee Dee" Wilde, came to court to give glowing character testimonies in his defence. Travis's barrister, Stephen Vullo, emphasised to the jury that these witnesses had described Travis as a gentleman and far from the sexual predator the prosecution alleged.
"The prosecution have thrown quite a lot of mud at the defendant in this case. But mud-throwing is not evidence," he told jurors. "It is not evidence capable of supporting or asserting that he has been a sexual predator for 40 years.""The prosecution have thrown quite a lot of mud at the defendant in this case. But mud-throwing is not evidence," he told jurors. "It is not evidence capable of supporting or asserting that he has been a sexual predator for 40 years."
The acquittal is sure to prompt soul-searching at the Crown Prosecution Service in advance of further Operation Yewtree trials scheduled for later this year, including those of Max Clifford and Rolf Harris. After the verdicts, two Operation Yewtree detectives refused to comment as they hurried past Travis's wife and supporters. The Metropolitan police and CPS also declined to comment, further than saying lawyers were considering whether a retrial should take place on two counts that jurors could not decide.The acquittal is sure to prompt soul-searching at the Crown Prosecution Service in advance of further Operation Yewtree trials scheduled for later this year, including those of Max Clifford and Rolf Harris. After the verdicts, two Operation Yewtree detectives refused to comment as they hurried past Travis's wife and supporters. The Metropolitan police and CPS also declined to comment, further than saying lawyers were considering whether a retrial should take place on two counts that jurors could not decide.
The criminal proceedings have already taken a toll on Travis. He moved out of the opulent home he shared with his wife of 42 years in order to pay legal bills. He suffers from chronic pain in his back and knees, an infirmity that once halted the trial when the judge took pity on him as he visibly struggled one morning on the witness stand. His wife Marianne, who attended court for the first time during the jury deliberations, is recovering from breast cancer.The criminal proceedings have already taken a toll on Travis. He moved out of the opulent home he shared with his wife of 42 years in order to pay legal bills. He suffers from chronic pain in his back and knees, an infirmity that once halted the trial when the judge took pity on him as he visibly struggled one morning on the witness stand. His wife Marianne, who attended court for the first time during the jury deliberations, is recovering from breast cancer.
Travis was inducted into radio's hall of fame in 2010, capping a 50-year career that started on the offshore pirate station Radio Caroline and was halted on his arrest in November 2012, when Magic AM dropped him from the airwaves.Travis was inducted into radio's hall of fame in 2010, capping a 50-year career that started on the offshore pirate station Radio Caroline and was halted on his arrest in November 2012, when Magic AM dropped him from the airwaves.
• This article was amended on 14 February 2014. An earlier version said that Mentmore is in Bedfordshire. The postal address is Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, but it is in fact in Buckinghamshire.