BBC probing SIX DJ Tim Westwood complaints with one referred to police

BBC is reviewing SIX complaints against DJ Tim Westwood – including one referred to police – despite insisting it was unaware of allegations of sexual misconduct and bullying against him

• BBC’s Tim Davie said this year that he had ‘seen no evidence of complaints’ 
• Now six misconduct allegations against him are being probed as part of a review
• Former Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood, 64, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing 

The BBC has revealed it is reviewing six misconduct complaints against DJ Tim Westwood, including one that has been referred to the police.

Despite previously insisting it wasn’t aware of any concerning behaviour, the broadcaster now say they have received a number of bulling and sexual misconduct accusations lodged against the DJ.

Former Radio 1 DJ Westwood, 64, denies any wrongdoing – and the BBC’s director general Tim Davie said earlier this year that he had ‘seen no evidence of complaints.’ 

But now six allegations, relating to the period from 1994 to 2013, are being probed as part of a review launched into Westwood’s 19-year career at the broadcaster. 

The claims relate to his alleged bulling and sexual behaviour – with some referring to his conduct outside of the BBC. 

The BBC is reviewing six allegations of sexual and bullying behaviour against veteran DJ Tim Westwood.  The DJ has strenuously denied all allegations

Westwood (pictured) has denied all allegations that were lodged against him

Westwood, pictured above in 2005, is at the centre of a sexual misconduct storm after allegations were levelled against him in recent years

Some of the complaints were in the past and were found in BBC files – including the one referred to the police.

The BBC said: ‘We are aware that one of these complaints was referred to police and Mr Westwood was spoken to in relation to another complaint.

 ‘We are not aware what further action was taken at this stage. As a result of this, we are looking into what action was taken at the time.’ 

They said that when the ongoing probe is finished, more details will be provided. 

Regarding the issue that was referred to the police, the spokesperson added: ‘This is an historic case that the BBC has found in its files. 

‘We are establishing the facts around it. It did not relate to conduct at the BBC, BBC premises, or conduct towards a BBC staff member, nor was it an accusation of physical assault.’  

The BBC did not say whether the other five other complaints were received before or after Mr Davie’s statement was issued in April. 

And the broadcaster said Mr Davie had set out the position as he understood it at the time. 

This comes after the Guardian and BBC published testimonies in April from seven women who made allegations of predatory sexual behaviour against Westwood.

Tim Westwood, son of the former Bishop of Peterborough, is a well known and award-winning figure in the UK hip hop scene

In a response, a spokesperson for the DJ said at the time that he vehemently denied the allegations.

They said: ‘Our client confirms that there has never been any complaint made against him, whether officially or unofficially, relating to claims of inappropriate behaviour of the nature described.

‘No complaint has ever been made to the police, and nobody has ever raised these matters, or any colourably similar, with him directly or with his representatives.

‘There has been no investigation in relation to him of any nature whatsoever, whether by the police, his employer or indeed any other authority.’

Earlier this year, Westwood was heard in unearthed clips urging a fan to stay in her bra as he ogled her on stage in the BBC3 film Tim Westwood: Abuse of Power. 

The DJ was accused of groping black women at gigs in the scathing documentary.

The 64-year-old son of the former Bishop of Peterborough was filmed cat-calling a woman as she scrambled to cover up as he shouted from the decks: ‘Yo baby you don’t have to put your top back on’.

He was also caught clutching a woman while looking down her top and asking: ‘I like your rack – is it real?’.

The documentary also showed him refusing to let go of a woman’s arm after he apparently whispered something sexual in her ear while backstage at a festival.

And another clip shows Westwood interviewing rapper Cardi B during a 2017 interview for Capital FM.

The American artist asks him: ‘Do you have sex with a lot of like, you know, black girls?’ Westwood replied after a pause: ‘Not as much as I’d like to’ in an interview where he was accused of being inappropriate towards the star.

On one occasion he also cuddled a woman while looking down her top and asking: ‘I like your rack – is it real?’

On another occasion he held on to a woman’s arm having told her she was beautiful while backstage at a festival

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