Dave Lee Travis accused of abusing girls on Top Of The Pops

DJ Dave Lee Travis leaves Southwark Crown Court Credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Former DJ Dave Lee Travis was an "opportunist" who assaulted "vulnerable" young woman while working in the industry, a court has heard.

Prosecutor Miranda Moore QC said women had come forward from "all parts of the United Kingdom" with similar allegations against Travis.

The alleged offences are "sexual in nature" and are said to have taken place while he was working as a DJ, acting in pantomimes and even during a recording of Top Of The Pops.

The 68-year-old, whose real name is David Patrick Griffin, is facing 13 counts of indecent assault dating between 1976 and 2003, and one count of sexual assault in 2008.

In one alleged incident, the count heard how Travis allegedly assaulted a woman working in the pantomime Aladdin in which he was playing the "evil wizard" Abanazar.

He is accused of assaulting a woman in a room at the theatre, only stopping when one of the Chuckle Brothers, who was also starring in the show, walked past the door.

The alleged victim reported the incident to a stage manager but it was decided she would not go to the police because Travis was a "star", the prosecutor said.

In another case, he is alleged to have indecently assaulted a BBC employee while indicating that she should not make a noise because the red light was on and the show was live.

The press jostle for a shot of Dave Lee Travis arriving at court Credit: Sean Dempsey/PA Wire

Southwark Crown Court also heard an allegation that Travis indecently assaulted a 19-year-old woman during a recording of Top Of The Pops.

The jury was shown a short clip of the programme from 1978, in which the presenter Travis is seen flanked by two women, one of whom is said to be the alleged victim.

Three of the counts relate to two women who worked at Chiltern FM between 2000 to 2003.

Travis is accused of rubbing one of the alleged victims on the thigh and slipping his thumb up her knickers, Ms Moore said.

Jurors were told how the woman went "ballistic" and shouted out in front of other members of staff: "Don't touch me, you're a pervert".

The trial, which is due to last up to six weeks, was adjourned until tomorrow.