Dave Lee Travis trial: Female DJ says groping claims against him are 'fantasy'

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

A female DJ has told a court that claims that former Radio 1 star Dave Lee Travis groped a carnival princess at the opening of a hospital radio station are "fantasy".

The woman, who worked as a presenter at the station in Hertfordshire, said she watched Travis closely when he appeared as a guest at the launch in the early 1970s at the time of the alleged incident.

She told jurors at Southwark Crown Court in London it was "utter nonsense" to suggest Travis became separated from a group of eight people meeting patients on the hospital's wards.

Addressing the witness, Stephen Vullo, defending Travis, said: "The jury has heard from a complainant to suggest he and her separated from this group while inside the hospital?"

The woman replied: "He was with his wife the whole time.

"I was watching what he was doing the whole time because he was an idol to me.

"It's utter nonsense or fantasy that anything like that happened."

The woman, appearing as a defence witness, told the court that members of the press at the event wanted Travis to "pick up" two carnival princesses at the launch for a photograph.

"I think I was a little miffed because the press were more interested in the carnival princesses than myself," she said.

"They were really anxious DLT picked up the princesses.

"They wanted a picture with him and the princesses."

The woman, who was 17 at the time, told the court Travis was "a lovely man" and "very professional" during his guest appearance.

"I had hopes of going into the media as a career," she said.

"He was, he is, a great DJ, an amazing person.

"It was just really, really exciting to have him come and open the radio station."

The alleged incident is not part of the charges against Travis as he stands trial accused of a series of indecent assaults.

The 68-year-old, from Buckinghamshire, is accused of indecently assaulting 10 women and sexually assaulting another in incidents dating back to 1976 and the height of his fame.

Appearing in court under his birth name David Griffin, the alleged offences occurred 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.

He denies all the charges.

Travis, wearing a light grey jacket and turquoise tie, listened to the proceedings in the dock with the aid of earphones.

PA

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