Jurors urged to forget about Travis' 'celebrity' status

Jurors in the trial of veteran DJ Dave Lee Travis have retired to consider their verdicts.

The former Top Of The Pops presenter is charged with indecently assaulting 10 women and sexually assaulting another in alleged incidents dating back to 1976.

The trial at London's Southwark Crown Court has heard that Travis,68, is alleged to have been an "opportunist" who assaulted "vulnerable" young woman.

He is charged with 13 counts of indecent assault dating between 1976 and 2002, and one count of sexual assault in 2008.

Read: Jurors urged to forget about Travis' 'celebrity' status

Jurors in the trial of veteran DJ Dave Lee Travis have been asked to disregard the verdicts of the William Roache trial and not be influenced by sex offence allegations against other celebrities, a judge has warned.

Judge Anthony Leonard told jurors to forget Travis, who is charged with 13 indecent assaults and one sexual assault, is famous as they deliberate their verdicts.

"During the course of this trial alone Rolf Harris has appeared here and Bill Roache has been tried elsewhere.The verdicts of the jury in the Bill Roache trial are all irrelevant to your consideration of this case.There is no such thing as guilty or innocence by association," said the judge.

Prosecutor Miranda Moore QC has told jurors at the trial of Dave Lee Travis to forget about his fame and treat him as a "normal member of the public, no more nor less".

Directing jurors to find Travis guilty, Ms Moore branded him a "dirty old man" and said "his celebrity might have given him protection in the past".

Referring to an alleged "pattern of consistent behaviour" she went on: "Why did 16 women make broadly similar allegations about the same man stretching back 30 years? And the answer is they're telling the truth."

Mr Travis denies 13 indecent assaults and one sexual assault.

The prosecutor in the trial of former BBC Radio One DJ Dave Lee Travis has asked jurors to consider the atmosphere at the corporation during in the 1970s and 80s.

In her closing speech, Miranda Moore QC said: "Was the BBC a utopia where women were free from unwanted attention, where the DJs behaved - apart from Savile.

"Where there were no rumours of untoward behaviour - apart from Savile. Where every complaint was dealt with properly?"

"I'm sorry ladies and gentlemen, but my expression to that is 'Oh please...'.", she added.

Ms Moore told the jury to "bring your scepticism" to the case, adding that while they might not feel the allegations are as serious as in other sex offence cases, "it is not for you to judge degrees of guilt.

"You judge whether the counts have been carried out on the indictment."

A former dancer with Top Of The Pops troupe Pan's People has told London's Southwark Crown Court that veteran DJ Dave Lee Travis was a "big pussycat".

Patricia "Dee Dee Wilde", who was a regular on the show in the 1960s and 1970s, also described him as an "absolute professional" and a "lovely man".

She added that "absolutely never" did she witness him do anything inappropriate on the show.

Mr Travis is charged with 13 counts of indecent assault dating back to between 1976 and 2003, and one count of sexual assault. He denies all the charges.

A women who modelled for DJ Dave Lee Travis said he was "very professional" when he took naked pictures of her at his house, London's Southwark Crown Court has heard.

Elisabeth Birks said she met Travis at a charity event and he asked if he could take photos of her after he saw that she had interesting tattoos.

She subsequently visited the DJ's home with her husband for the photo session.

Ms Birks said:"He just made me feel very comfortable...Dave was very professional about it."

Asked if he ever did anything inappropriate, Ms Birks said: "No, not at all.

"I felt comfortable for the whole thing. "Everything was fine", he added.

The elder Chuckle Brother, Barry Elliott, described former DJ Dave Lee Travis as a "jolly great chap to work with" whilst appearing as a defence witness in his trial for sexual charges. Appearing at London's Southwark Crown Court, Mr Elliott said he could not recall the alleged offences. He said:

Asked if he remembered Travis ever "struggling" with a young female in his dressing room, Mr Elliott said:

More: Chuckle Brother 'completely surprised' by Dave Lee Travis claims

One of the Chuckle Brothers told the trial of former DJ Dave Lee Travis that he was "completely surprised" to hear claims he assaulted a woman at a pantomime they were starring in.

Entertainers Paul and Barry Elliott starred alongside Travis in a production of Aladdin in the early 1990s.

The woman previously told the court her ordeal ended when they were interrupted by one of the Chuckle Brothers walking past in the corridor.

Giving evidence today, Paul Elliott, 66, was asked whether he recalled any inappropriate behaviour by the former DJ. He responded:

"No sorry, I don't. As I say it was a complete surprise. [...]

"Not that I recall, not at all. I think I would remember."

More: Dave Lee Travis groping claim 'pure nonsense'

The Chuckle Brothers have arrived at Southwark Crown Court where they are due to appear as witnesses in the trial of former DJ Dave Lee Travis.

Read: Dave Lee Travis groping claim 'pure nonsense'

A female DJ told a court that claims that former Radio 1 star Dave Lee Travis groped a carnival princess at the opening of a hospital radio station are "fantasy".

The woman, who worked as a presenter at the station, said she watched Travis closely when he appeared as a guest at the launch.

The alleged incident is said to have taken place in the early 1970s, but is not part of the charges against Travis.

More: Former assistant denies Dave Lee Travis was seen as a sex predator