Detectives hand Tim Westwood file to prosecutors to consider charges

Entertainment

Detectives investigating allegations of sexual offences against DJ Tim Westwood have submitted evidence to prosecutors to consider charges.

Claims of non-recent sexual abuse were made against the former BBC Radio 1 DJ in 2022.

The Met Police previously said it was investigating alleged offences in London that occurred between 1982 and 2016, and officers have now submitted a file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Westwood, 66, has previously “strongly” denied any wrongdoing.

A CPS spokesperson said: “We can confirm we received a file from the Metropolitan Police Service regarding allegations of non-recent sexual offences allegedly committed by a man in his 60s.”

No timescale for a decision on charging has been given.

Detectives first received allegations of non-recent sexual abuse against Westwood in April 2022, after the BBC aired a documentary revealing claims against the presenter.

The broadcaster has since been carrying out its own inquiry into Westwood’s conduct during his time at the corporation. As part of that review, a 24-hour hotline was set up for people to report information.

The report is yet to be published. A freedom of information request by BBC News earlier this year revealed the broadcaster had spent more than £3m on the review so far.

In July, the BBC said the report had been completed but there were legal processes to go through before it is in a position to publish the findings.

After the allegations were made public, a statement from a representative of Westwood said: “Tim Westwood strongly denies all allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

“In a career that has spanned 40 years, there have never been any complaints made against him officially or unofficially.

“Tim Westwood strongly rejects all allegations of wrongdoing.”

Westwood began his career on local radio before joining Capital Radio in London.

He then moved to the BBC and left Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra after nearly 20 years in 2013.

Westwood hosted a regular Saturday show on Capital Xtra, where he was referred to as “The Big Dawg”, before he left the company in 2022.

Sky News has contacted representatives for Westwood for comment.

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