Former Radio 1 DJ could be extradited on child sex charges

The former Radio 1 DJ Chris Denning is expected to be extradited to Britain this week to face charges of sexual abusing children.

Denning, 59, completed a prison sentence in Prague in May but has since been held in custody at the request of the Home Office. He was convicted in the Czech Republic in 1999 of sexually abusing boys under the age of 15, and corrupting the moral education of 18-year-olds. He maintained his innocence throughout the trial. A Home Office spokeswoman confirmed last night that Britain was seeking his extradition to face further charges and the case was in the hands of the Czech authorities.

Denning is said to be a friend of Jonathan King, the pop mogul who was convicted of sexual offences last week. He worked at Radio 1 when it began broadcasting in 1967.

A Czech Justice Ministry spokesman said in August that a warrant for Denning's arrest had been issued in Britain in connection with alleged "sexual crimes".Extradition proceedings were said to have begun after he refused to accept a fast-track deportation.

Denning's trial took 16 months to complete, with the former DJ's final defence statement taking almost 40 hours to deliver the longest such statement in Czech legal history.