Dave Lee Travis tells court: 'I'm a normal decent human being. I cuddle people'

Dave Lee Travis, whose real name is David Patrick Griffin, arrives at Southwark Crown Court on 17 January 17 2014 (Getty Images)

Former Radio One disc jockey Dave Lee Travis has told his trial he is “astonished” at sex offence allegations against him and told jurors he is a “normal, decent human being”.

Becoming increasingly angry as he was cross-examined, Travis denied indecently assaulting 10 women and sexually assaulting another in incidents dating back to 1976 and the height of his fame.

“Suddenly I'm a great predator,” he told jurors at London's Southwark Crown Court.

“These things did not happen. I don't know how I can convince you that they did not happen.

”I'm a normal, decent human being. I play jokes on people. I cuddle people. And if there have been some sexual interactions in the past, it's been consensual.

“It's been suggested that women threw themselves at me - thank God most of them missed.”

Appearing under his birth name David Griffin, the 68-year-old also became annoyed when questioned by prosecutor Miranda Moore QC about claims he grabbed a female journalist's breasts after asking her to pose for suggestive photographs.

“I'm a professional in my photographic life. I'm a professional in my broadcasting life.

”I do not want to touch the breasts of anybody, let alone anybody who works for the press. That would be suicide.

“I have not been groping people for 40 years,” he said.

Ms Moore said: “It's got you written all over it Mr Griffin. Because you've been doing it for years and getting away with it.”

The defendant, known as DLT, replied: “I've not been doing it for years. I've not been getting away with it.”

Earlier, the former disc jockey was accused of changing his version of events surrounding sex offence claims.

He told jurors he was telling them the truth, and if what he said in court differed from what he told police, it was due to the "stress and strain" of being questioned by officers.

Asked why he told police that he did not remember any complaints being made against him, but now said he did accept that his boss had told him that a woman had accused him of touching her leg. Travis told jurors: "I'm clever enough to be a DJ and do my own stuff on the radio or on TV, but I'm not exactly Sherlock Holmes and I can't exactly work out the best way of telling a story.

"My best way of telling a story is to tell the truth. I'm telling you the truth now."

Pressed on why his account had changed, Travis became angry as he told Ms Moore: "I have never been arrested in my life and so I considered that I was feeling a little bit shaky about that."

Travis denied he touched his colleague inappropriately, telling jurors it was normal for him to greet his colleagues with a "bear hug".

"I was not aware that she had a problem with being touched," he said.

Travis, from Buckinghamshire, denies 13 charges alleging indecent assaults and one of sexual assault.

The charges relate to allegations from when he was working as a BBC DJ, as a broadcaster with Classic Gold radio, while appearing on Top Of The Pops and when starring in panto.

The trial continues

PA