Travis sex abuse retrial to get underway

The retrial of veteran DJ Dave Lee Travis over historic sex abuse allegations is expected to open today.

The former Radio 1 DJ is standing trial on a total of three charges at London’s Southwark Crown Court, with the prosecution expected to outline its case this morning.

Travis, who is charged under his real name David Griffin, faces a retrial on two counts – one of indecent assault and one of sexual assault – which a jury was unable to reach verdicts on at a trial earlier this year.

The 69-year-old has also pleaded not guilty to an additional count of indecent assault alleged to have taken place on January 17 1995.

A jury of six men and six women was sworn in on Tuesday after they were asked to declare whether they or any close family member had been employed by the BBC or in connection with the Mrs Merton Show; on Operation Yewtree; or employed by the Daily Telegraph.

Trial judge Anthony Leonard QC told a panel of potential jurors: “The defendant who you are to try is called David Griffin but is better known by the name Dave Lee Travis or by the initials DLT.

“It is likely that many of you will remember that at the start of this year he was tried on a number of allegations of a similar nature.

“He was acquitted on all but two of the charges which remain unresolved. These form two of the three charges that you will be asked to consider.

“Ordinarily a jury is not told that a defendant has already faced a trial because it is not relevant to your considerations.

“But because it is likely that a number of you will remember the fact that he was tried earlier this year, it is sensible to tell you so.”