Photo: BBC/Press
Former Radio One DJ Chris Denning has been found guilty of a series of sexual assaults between 1967-1987 and has been sentenced to 13 years in prison.
The DJ, described as 'utterly depraved' by the Judge Alistair McCreath, was part of Radio One's original launch lineup of DJs in 1967. He was senteded for 40 offences against 24 boys, some of them as young as nine.
Passing sentence the judge told him: "It is not to be forgotten that all of this suffering was inflicted by you without thought for anything other than your own selfish pleasure."
The court heard how Denning used his celebrity connections and contacts to impress the boys, including taking them to Top Of The Pops and introducing them to the likes of Jimmy Savile. He also plyed them with drugs, alcohol and pornography and took both photos and videos of his victims. The assaults took place at Denning's home, Jimmy Savile's home and a computer game shop Denning owned in Dorset.
As the BBC reports, Neil Moore, prosecuting said: "The defendant used the allure first of the record industry and celebrity, and then the world of computer games to entice boys into his company. He spoke to them about his career and the celebrities of the moment he knew."
During his time at Radio One, Denning worked alongsider Tony Blackburn, Kenny Everett, Terry Wogan and John Peel. Denning left Radio 1 in 1969 and worked at Decca for two years. He claimed to have produced the Beatles and launched the career of Garry Glitter. Denning's first conviction for gross indecency and assault was in 1974.
