Former BBC DJ Tim Westwood Charged with Rape and Sexual

Published: 10 October 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Former BBC Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood has been charged with multiple sexual offences spanning more than three decades, including four counts of rape. The 68-year-old faces 15 separate charges involving seven women, with incidents alleged to have occurred between 1983 and 2016.

According to the Metropolitan Police, the charges include four counts of rape, nine counts of indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault. The alleged offences took place in various locations across London and the UK. Police have confirmed that their investigation remains active and have urged anyone with additional information to come forward.

Among the allegations are the rape and sexual assault of a female aged between 17 and 18 in London between 1995 and 1996, and further attacks on another teenager during the early 2000s. Westwood has also been accused of raping a woman in her 20s in 2010 and indecently assaulting another 17-year-old girl in Fulham back in 1983.

Additional allegations include sexual assaults on women in their 20s in Vauxhall in 1986, Stroud in 2010, and Finchley in 2016—the most recent of the reported incidents.

Westwood has long faced scrutiny following a joint investigation by the Guardian and BBC News in 2022, which published the testimonies of 18 women who accused him of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour between 1992 and 2017. In response, Westwood publicly denied all claims of inappropriate behaviour and sexual abuse.

The DJ, known for his influence on the UK hip-hop scene, stepped down from his Capital Xtra radio show in 2022 after the allegations came to light. He had previously left BBC Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra in 2013, ending a nearly two-decade-long career with the broadcaster.

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of the Metropolitan Police praised the courage of the women who came forward, saying: “It takes immense bravery to report offences of this nature. We remain committed to supporting the victims and ensuring they receive every form of assistance available.” He added that the investigation remains ongoing and encouraged others with relevant information to contact authorities, assuring them that all reports would be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

Lionel Idan, Chief Crown Prosecutor, stated that prosecutors had determined there was sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and that doing so was in the public interest. “We remind everyone that criminal proceedings are active and the defendant has the right to a fair trial,” he said. “It is crucial that no reporting, online commentary, or sharing of information takes place that could prejudice the case.”

The case marks one of the most high-profile charges against a prominent UK media figure in recent years and reignites public discussion about accountability and misconduct within the entertainment industry.