Paedophile DJ Chris Denning 'offered boy victim to another BBC presenter'

Disgraced Radio One DJ Chris Denning "offered" one of his victims to another BBC presenter who replied that he "didn't do that sort of thing".

The prolific paedophile, 75, used his fame to sexually abuse dozens of young boys in the 1960s, '70s and '80s.

He took some of the boys to London on several occasions and introduced them to other celebrities, including Gary Glitter.

Denning, one of Radio One's founding presenters, is facing sentencing at Southwark Crown Court for assaulting 11 victims, some as young as eight.

Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay said: "In the late 1960s up to the mid 1970s he was a famous DJ, having worked for Radio Luxembourg, Radio London, BBC 2, BBC's Light Programme and as one of the original Radio 1 DJs, where he had his own show.

"He abused his fame, and the trust placed in him by others, for his own sexual gratification."

He added: "Denning would take one of his victims out for pizza. He also took him on holiday, on tours of radio stations and let him stay at his bungalow.

"On one of those occasions, in the bungalow, another well-known Radio One DJ was present and Denning offered the victim to him.

"The other DJ replied he didn't do that sort of thing."

Denning lured boys into his house using his fame and plied them with records, alcohol and cigarettes. He showed them pornography before forcing them to perform sex acts on him and photographed them naked. He also took several of his victims to the Walton Hop Disco, which ran from 1958 until 2001.

Denning promised another boy that he "could use his connections to get him into the music industry" and convinced him to pose naked for a photo shoot, the prosecutor added.

"He said that music managers would want to see photographs of him and so he needed to take some.

"Denning then said the managers would need to see his physique."

He offered one of his victims a job at the disco and repeatedly had the boy sleep at his house afterwards, where he would abuse him.

Mr Polnay said: "Denning took him to London, where he introduced him as 'one of my friends' to Gary Glitter."

Denning previously pleaded guilty to 21 sexual offences, including indecent assault of men and boys and inciting boys to commit acts of gross indecency.

He is already serving a 13-year jail sentence for a catalogue of sexual assaults against 24 victims, including one allegedly at Jimmy Savile's house.

A number of Denning's victims came to court for his sentencing, with two of them reading moving statements.

The defendant sat in the dock wearing a grey and orange tracksuit and showed no emotion as the men, both in their 50s, spoke of how the abuse continues to affect them.

David Burgess, defending, said Denning suffers from "various ailments", including Parkinson's, heart problems, cancer and diabetes, has had five minor strokes and is now wheelchair-bound.

He added: "I appreciate the views of those victims who have spoken of their torment and a desire for him to be punished severely.

"His past has caught up with him, we are talking about events over 40 years ago.

"He is very sorry, he has expressed that before."

Advertisement