TWO former BBC radio hosts have been jailed after being found guilty at Warwick Crown Court of indecently assaulting underage boys in woodland in the 1990s.

Julie and Tony Wadsworth, 60 and 69, were convicted of encouraging seven boys to take part in sexual activity in woodland next to a golf course from 1992 to 1996 - including one who was looking for a golf ball.

13 Julie Wadsworth was jailed for five years at Warwick Crown Court today Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

13 Tony Wadsworth was also sentenced to five years behind bars today Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

The couple had admitted to engaging in or watching sex acts in an area of parkland but claimed "young men" were involved.

But jurors did not believe the couple’s account and convicted them both of sexual offences against children by majority verdict.

A judge today sentenced the couple to five years each behind bars.

13 Julie, 60, and Tony Wadsworth 69, arrive at court today Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

As the verdicts were returned, Mrs Wadsworth – who was cleared of indecently assaulting one of the victims at her home – repeatedly gulped and wiped away tears with a black tissue.

Her husband showed little emotion and handed a mobile phone to a solicitor.

At the start of the trial, prosecutor Miranda Moore QC said the presenters had worked at the BBC's former studios at Pebble Mill, Birmingham.

Some of the couple's victims told the court Mrs Wadsworth was variously dressed in a "flasher's mac" trench coat, white high heels, stockings, suspenders, and a split skirt at the time of the offences.

13 Julie Wadsworth's defence said she was being painted as a 'predatory' figure Credit: Birmingham Post and Mail

13 The radio DJ couple are pictured with Pudsey Bear for Children in Need in 2002 Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

Prosecutor Miranda Moore QC told the court during the trial: “What would happen was following observation by the lads, Julie would engage in sexual activity with them.

“Julie was doing the activity but Tony was there, he was watching and occasionally masturbating himself and sometimes Julie would tell the boys he was just keeping a lookout.

“One of the boys Julie would continue to see, she would lean out of her window at home and invite him to her house for sex when Tony was out of the way.”

The pair have admitted having “outdoor hanky panky” in order to “spice up their sex life” but denied doing it in front of anyone.

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Julie has admitted performing a sex act on a teenager in woods in front of her husband — but denied that the lad was under-age.

She told Warwick Crown Court that the alleged victim was “17 or 18”, but he claims he was 14.

Three years later the couple bumped into the same boy at a garden centre and invited him back to their house to do some gardening.

13 Julie Moulds - now Julie Wadsworth - in the Leicester Trader in December 1979 when the paper ran a glamour competition featuring local girls Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

13 The couple were found guilty by majority verdict at Warwick Crown Court Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

Jurors were told the boy and Mrs Wadsworth then engaged in “mutual masturbation” while her husband was out.

Mrs Wadsworth admitted she had also engaged in sex sessions with two other boys in the woods — who she also claimed were not underage.

Mr Wadsworth – an award-winning DJ who presented shows known for their Carry On film style with his wife – was found guilty of indecent assault because of his role as an "early warning system" for his partner.

On one occasion, the court heard, an alleged victim was "spooked" by Mr Wadsworth standing nearby with a camera around his neck.

13 Jurors heard Wadsworth engaged in sex acts with a string of underage boys Credit: Birmingham Mail

13 The couple insisted they had never engaged in sex acts with children Credit: PA:Press Association

During the trial, it emerged that two groups of victims contacted police after a complainant realised two years ago that what had taken place in the 1990s "was not right and not appropriate".

Mitigating for Mrs Wadsworth after her conviction, David Hislop QC said: "At 60 years of age, hers has been a tragic fall from grace – she forged from humble beginnings a successful career as a broadcaster.

"A period of incarceration will be made even more difficult for her, knowing the stigma attached to her convictions will carry on forever."

Mr Wadsworth's lawyer, Michelle Clarke, said the hardest thing for him to come to terms with would be being separated from his wife.

13 The prosecutor said the couple 'preyed on young, impressionable victims' Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

The barrister told the court: "Your Honour heard from him that radio in effect was his life and he was working up to six days a week.

"His radio life and being with his wife was his life – all of that has come crashing down."

David Rouse, a senior crown prosecutor with the West Midlands CPS's Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit, said the couple lived double lives.

13 The couple claimed 'young men' were involved in the sex acts Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

He said: "In their public and professional lives they were a couple who came across as caring, warm and respectable.

"However, in their private lives, they preyed on young, impressionable victims for their own sexual gratification.

"I would like to thank the victims for their courage during this difficult and sensitive prosecution. They have helped to bring these two sexual predators to justice."

Passing sentence on the pair, Judge Lockhart said Mrs Wadsworth had "groomed" the victims – including a boy aged as young as 11 – while her spouse was equally culpable for the offences.

13 A senior prosecutor branded the couple 'sexual predators' with 'double lives' Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

The judge told the former BBC WM and BBC Radio Leicester presenters: "You are a married couple and you were married across part of the period of this indictment.

"You were plainly very sexually active with one another. I find that you as a couple decided to move outside your marriage to gain more excitement.

"You Julie Wadsworth loved the attention and that young boys were attracted to you.

"You Tony Wadsworth did all you could to encourage her and facilitate the events that the jury have heard about."

13 A judge told the couple they were both 'equally culpable' for the offences Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

The judge said it would have been "staringly" obvious to anyone that the victims – some of whom were riding bikes or climbing trees in parkland – were young boys.

A significant degree of planning went into the offending, the judge said, with the Wadsworths acting together to lure boys into parkland near Atherstone.

Ordering the Wadsworths, of Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, to register as sex offenders for life, the judge added: "This case demonstrates the danger of conduct such as this.

"I have no doubt that some of the young boys have found themselves carrying some form of burden into adulthood."

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