This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29076833
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Dave Lee Travis 'was a sexual opportunist', retrial hears | Dave Lee Travis 'was a sexual opportunist', retrial hears |
(35 minutes later) | |
Dave Lee Travis was an opportunist who groped vulnerable women and those who were alone, a jury has heard. | Dave Lee Travis was an opportunist who groped vulnerable women and those who were alone, a jury has heard. |
The former Radio 1 DJ is being retried on two counts - one of indecent assault and one of sexual assault - and faces a further charge of indecent assault. | |
Miranda Moore QC began outlining the prosecution case against the 69-year-old at Southwark Crown Court, saying Mr Travis "seemed to act as if he had a perfect right" to grope women. | Miranda Moore QC began outlining the prosecution case against the 69-year-old at Southwark Crown Court, saying Mr Travis "seemed to act as if he had a perfect right" to grope women. |
Mr Travis denies the charges. | Mr Travis denies the charges. |
A jury was unable to reach a verdict on the first two charges, which are said to have taken place in 1991 and 2008 respectively, in a trial earlier this year. | |
The third charge relates to an indecent assault alleged to have taken place in January 1995. | |
Ms Moore said the jury would hear from the three women to whom the charges relate. | |
'Vulnerable positions' | |
Two other woman will also describe similar incidents to support the descriptions of Travis's alleged behaviour. | |
The prosecutor said: "The offences that you are going to consider vary in seriousness. They involved unwanted physical contact over and under clothing. | |
"We say ... he has a propensity towards laying his hands in a sexual manner on young women who are alone with him or in vulnerable positions. | |
"He is an opportunist." | |
Ms Moore added: "The defendant, according to these ladies, simply seemed to act as if he had a perfect right to touch their breasts or put his hands in their clothing to grope them." | |
'Upset and shocked' | |
She said the women felt "upset, embarrassed, shocked" and unsure what to do because Travis was a celebrity. | |
A jury of six men and six women was sworn in for the retrial on Tuesday. | |
Trial judge Anthony Leonard QC told them: "The defendant who you are to try is called David Griffin but is better known by the name Dave Lee Travis or by the initials DLT. | Trial judge Anthony Leonard QC told them: "The defendant who you are to try is called David Griffin but is better known by the name Dave Lee Travis or by the initials DLT. |
"It is likely that many of you will remember that at the start of this year he was tried on a number of allegations of a similar nature. | "It is likely that many of you will remember that at the start of this year he was tried on a number of allegations of a similar nature. |
"He was acquitted on all but two of the charges which remain unresolved. These form two of the three charges that you will be asked to consider. | "He was acquitted on all but two of the charges which remain unresolved. These form two of the three charges that you will be asked to consider. |
"Ordinarily a jury is not told that a defendant has already faced a trial because it is not relevant to your considerations. | "Ordinarily a jury is not told that a defendant has already faced a trial because it is not relevant to your considerations. |
"But because it is likely that a number of you will remember the fact that he was tried earlier this year, it is sensible to tell you so." | "But because it is likely that a number of you will remember the fact that he was tried earlier this year, it is sensible to tell you so." |