Veteran broadcaster Tim Westwood has been charged with four counts of rape and a string of sexual offences spanning more than three decades, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed.
The 68-year-old former BBC Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra presenter faces a total of 15 charges relating to allegations made by seven women between 1983 and 2016. The Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charges on Wednesday following an extensive investigation by detectives.
Westwood, of Westminster, has been charged with four counts of rape, nine counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault. He will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 10 November.
The charges represent one of the most serious cases to emerge from the entertainment industry in recent years, with allegations stretching back four decades during the height of Westwood’s career as one of Britain’s most influential hip-hop DJs.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, from the Metropolitan Police Service, paid tribute to the courage of the women who came forward with allegations.
“It takes courage to come forward and report allegations of this nature,” he said. “The women who have done so have put their trust in us and we continue to provide them with all available support.”
Furphy confirmed the investigation remains open and urged anyone impacted by the case to contact authorities. “A dedicated team of investigators is available via email at CIT@met.police.uk. Any reports will be dealt with in the strictest confidence by specialist officers.”
The Metropolitan Police has released detailed information about each of the charges Westwood faces, spanning incidents across London and Gloucestershire.
The earliest allegation dates to 1983, when a 17-year-old girl was allegedly indecently assaulted in the Fulham area of London. Three years later, in 1986, a woman in her 20s was allegedly sexually assaulted in the Vauxhall area of London.
Between 1995 and 1996, a female aged between 17 and 18 was allegedly raped in London. Police say the same woman was also allegedly sexually assaulted in central London within the same timeframe.
Between 2000 and 2001, another female aged between 17 and 18 was allegedly raped and sexually assaulted in London, according to the charges.
Two separate incidents are alleged to have occurred in 2010. One woman in her 20s was allegedly raped in London, whilst another woman, also in her 20s, was allegedly sexually assaulted in Stroud, Gloucestershire.
The most recent allegation dates to 2016, when a woman in her 20s was allegedly sexually assaulted in the Finchley area of London.
Lionel Idan, Chief Crown Prosecutor, confirmed the decision to prosecute, stating: “The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute Tim Westwood for a series of serious sexual offences. Our prosecutors have established that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.”
Idan issued a stark warning about the need to protect the integrity of the legal proceedings. “The Crown Prosecution Service reminds everyone that criminal proceedings are active, and the defendant has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
Westwood has previously denied all allegations of sexual misconduct. When accusations first surfaced in April 2022, his representative issued a statement saying he “strongly rejects all allegations of wrongdoing”.
The DJ’s broadcasting career spans more than four decades, beginning in the late 1970s on pirate radio stations including LWR before moving to the newly formed Kiss FM, which he co-owned.
In 1987, Westwood joined Capital Radio, where he presented the Capital Rap Show until 1994. He then moved to BBC Radio 1, launching The Rap Show, which became the first national rap programme in the UK. The show was launched with a live concert featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and Puff Daddy.
For nearly two decades, Westwood remained a dominant force at the BBC, hosting shows on both Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra. His programme featured major international artists including Jay-Z, Eminem, Kanye West, Nas, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj and Drake, helping to shape British urban radio and cement his reputation as a kingmaker in the hip-hop industry.
When Radio 1Xtra launched as a digital network in 2002, Westwood hosted the drivetime show until September 2012, when he was replaced by Charlie Sloth. He continued presenting his Saturday night Rap Show, which was simulcast on both Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra, until his departure from the BBC in 2013 after nearly 20 years.
Following his exit from the corporation, Westwood rejoined Capital Radio’s sister station Capital Xtra, where he presented shows until April 2022, when Global, Capital’s parent company, announced he was stepping down “until further notice” following the emergence of allegations.
Beyond radio, Westwood achieved significant television success hosting MTV’s Pimp My Ride UK, which ran for three seasons from 2005 to 2007. At the time, it was the most successful MTV UK production of all time and the second highest-rated show in the history of MTV Europe.
He also presented a series of programmes on UKTV channel UK Play and appeared in ITV’s Night Network in the late 1980s, hosting N Sign Radio and The Rap Show.
Westwood’s official YouTube channel, Tim Westwood TV, has accumulated over 500 million views and more than one million subscribers, featuring freestyle performances and interviews with major hip-hop and grime artists.
Throughout his career, Westwood won numerous accolades, including the 2010 Radio Academy John Peel Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music and MOBO Awards for Best Radio DJ in 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008. He also received the 2016 Legacy Award at the GRM Daily Rated Awards.
His compilation albums have sold over two million copies, with The Platinum Edition becoming the biggest-selling British urban album of all time upon its release in 2003.
The charges follow a joint investigation by the BBC and The Guardian in 2022, which brought to light accounts from seven Black women alleging sexual touching and misconduct by Westwood between 1992 and 2017. Their testimonies were featured in the BBC Three documentary “Tim Westwood: Abuse of Power”.
Earlier this year, the BBC published findings from an independent review into what the corporation knew about Westwood’s conduct during his time at the broadcaster. The review, overseen by Gemma White KC, concluded that whilst Westwood often made sexualised remarks on his shows, including comments about women’s breasts, there was “no widespread or significant BBC knowledge of allegations or concerns about predatory sexual behaviour” by Westwood during his tenure from 1994 to 2013.
The BBC Board subsequently apologised, acknowledging the corporation “did not take adequate action” after learning of concerns regarding the DJ’s alleged behaviour.
Detective Superintendent Furphy encouraged anyone with information to come forward. “Support is also available by contacting the independent charity, Rape Crisis at 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line,” he added.
The Metropolitan Police reference number for the case is 4672/09OCT25. Information can also be passed to detectives by calling 101.
All media outlets have been advised to ensure responsible reporting in line with guidance from the Attorney General’s Office, with editors, publishers and social media users warned to take legal advice to ensure full compliance with obligations under the common law and Contempt of Court Act 1981.
Westwood’s court appearance on 10 November will mark the beginning of formal legal proceedings in what is expected to be a closely watched case involving one of British radio’s most recognisable voices.
The charges span a period during which Westwood was at the height of his influence in the music industry, wielding considerable power over the careers of emerging artists and commanding respect across the British hip-hop scene.
As criminal proceedings are now active, strict reporting restrictions apply to ensure the defendant receives a fair trial. Any commentary or information sharing that could prejudice proceedings risks being in contempt of court.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
Image Credit:
Cars at the start of the Gumball 3000 rally (2007) — photo by johnantoni, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0(commons.wikimedia.org)
