Court of appeal judges rule against former BBC Radio 1’s challenge against conviction for groping woman in 1995

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

The former BBC Radio 1 DJ Dave Lee Travis has lost a challenge against his conviction for indecent assault.



Three judges at the court of appeal in London dismissed an application by the disgraced broadcaster, who was found guilty last year of groping a researcher working on the Mrs Merton Show in 1995.



After his conviction last year, the former Top of the Pops presenter, 70, said he was mortified and really disappointed.



He was sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for two years, by a judge at Southwark crown court in London. Travis was present in court on Tuesday when Lady Justice Hallett, Mrs Justice McGowan and Mrs Justice May rejected his bid to overturn his conviction.

Hallett said: “We are driven to the conclusion that there are no arguable grounds of appeal and accordingly the application for leave to appeal must be refused.”



The trial jury heard he assaulted his victim – now a TV personality – in the corridor of a BBC studio where she was smoking, commenting on her “poor little lungs” before squeezing her breasts for 10 to 15 seconds.



Travis, of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, who became a household name in the 1970s, was first arrested in October 2012 under Operation Yewtree, Scotland Yard’s investigation into historic sexual abuse as a result of allegations against the late DJ Jimmy Savile.



Stephen Vullo QC, representing Travis, told the appeal judges the events that followed his arrest had “devastated his career, ruined his reputation, and damaged his finances beyond repair”.



Two trials lasting many weeks, with two separate juries, had resulted in a single conviction, said Vullo. “We have evidence now that (the complainant) lied to the jury.”



Outside the court of appeal, Travis said: “Obviously, I am really, really disappointed, which is probably the understatement of the year.”

He added: “The Metropolitan police will be extremely relieved today. They have managed, with the CPS, to throw more mud at me in the last three years than anyone could conceive of.”



Travis said the litigation had cost him his living, his house and his wife’s health. He said: “I agree with the law but I have lost a lot of respect for the law. I am going to go home and have a cup of tea. There is not much more I can do.”



