Former BBC Trial of Michael Souter “I was Sexually Abused by DJ"

 

Michael Souter no longer works for the BBC

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• Ex-BBC man 'used status to abuse'
• A man who worked at the BBC as a teenager has told a court that a DJ gave him alcohol before molesting him.
• The alleged victim said he met BBC Radio Norfolk broadcaster Michael Souter after starting a casual job at the corporation in Norwich.
• The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told Norwich Crown Court he began doing odd jobs at Mr Souter's home, where he claims he was abused.
• Mr Souter, 60, of Loddon, Norfolk, denies 19 sex offences.
• They include indecent assault, indecency with a child and serious sexual offences, against seven boys aged between 11 and 16, dating from between 1979 and 1999.
• 'I felt dizzy'
• The witness's job, which lasted for about six months, involved helping DJs and sometimes travelling with them in a radio car.
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• “
• Start Quote
• My trousers were down and Mike had his hand on me”
• Alleged victim
• "On one occasion he offered me and a friend a beer and we accepted - it was the first time I had drank alcohol," the man told the court.
• "I felt dizzy and the room was spinning. I was feeling unwell and he took me upstairs to lie down.
• "When I woke up, I was in a bit of a shock. My trousers were down and Mike had his hand on me.
• "He said: 'Calm down, it's all right, don't worry'."
• Jurors heard the man left his job at the BBC soon after and never returned to Mr Souter's house.
• He said he did not tell anybody about the abuse because he had not wanted to be labelled as gay.
• The court heard it was not until he was approached by police in 2011 that he spoke about the abuse.
• Asked by defence barrister Andrew Hill if he had a false memory or had made up the incident, the man said: "No, not at all."
• As well as presenting various BBC Radio Norfolk shows, Mr Souter was involved in the Scout movement and was a youth mentor for Norfolk's social services department.
• 'A conspiracy'
• Originally from Scotland, he worked as a producer and presenter in both commercial and BBC radio from the mid-1970s. He had previously presented for Radio Clyde.
• Since 1989 he has worked as a freelance broadcaster and runs a media relations consultancy.
• Prosecutor Andrew Shaw has told the court Mr Souter used his status as a local celebrity to meet and abuse boys, many of whom were vulnerable.
• Mr Souter says he is the victim of a conspiracy.
• He denies he was attracted to young boys and said none of the alleged abuse happened.
• The trial is expected to last six weeks.
• BBC