Former BBC DJ Tim Westwood Charged With Four Counts of Rape

Tim Westwood, a well-known former BBC DJ, has been formally charged with four counts of rape, as reported by the Metropolitan Police.

The 68-year-old, who rose to fame in the 1990s across the U.K., faces an additional nine counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault.

The charges involve allegations from seven different women, with incidents reportedly occurring between 1983 and 2016.

“Reporting such allegations requires immense bravery,” stated Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy. “The women who have come forward have placed their trust in us, and we are committed to providing them with all possible support.”

Westwood is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on November 11.

Earlier this year, the BBC released the results of an inquiry examining its awareness of Westwood’s behavior.

The report concluded that there was “no significant or widespread knowledge within the BBC regarding allegations or concerns of predatory sexual conduct” by Westwood during his tenure from 1994 to 2013. However, it emphasized that “there were moments where the organization overlooked chances that could have led to intervention,” and noted that “allegations were frequently handled in isolation rather than being consolidated.”

Claims against Westwood emerged in 2022 following a joint investigation by the BBC and the Guardian, which highlighted testimonies from seven Black women who accused him of sexual misconduct and inappropriate touching from 1992 to 2017. Their stories were featured in the BBC Three documentary, “Tim Westwood: Abuse of Power.”