A former BBC Radio presenter has been charged with more than thirty separate offences of sexual assault against both children and adults, with the alleged crimes taking place over the course of his broadcasting career.
Detailed Charges Spanning Decades
Brian Shuttlewood, aged 79, faces multiple counts including indecent assault, rape, gross indecency, and offences involving cruelty towards children. The charges cover an eighteen-year period from 1972 to 1990.
Significantly, some of the alleged instances are said to have occurred during a six-year period before he was hired to work as a DJ on BBC Radio Leicester. Shuttlewood's employment with the broadcaster spanned from 1978 to 1995.
Additional Serious Allegations
In addition to the assault charges, Shuttlewood has also been accused of possession of extreme pornographic images. All charges relate to four specific individuals, and the former host has entered a plea of not guilty to every allegation he currently faces.
Trial Postponement Due to Health Concerns
The disgraced former radio personality was originally scheduled to begin trial on January 6th. However, proceedings have now been postponed to February 17th due to concerns surrounding his health and fitness to stand trial.
Shuttlewood is currently on conditional bail as Leicester Crown Court awaits medical clarification regarding his ability to participate in legal proceedings.
Broadcasting Career and Persona
During his seventeen-year tenure with the BBC, Shuttlewood worked across the corporation's East Midlands output, presenting programmes for Radio Leicester, Radio Nottingham, Radio Derby, and Radio Lincoln.
Known to listeners as 'The Big Bopper', his shows specialised in 1950s and 1960s rock music. His flagship programme was called The Rocker Returns, and he also presented The Brian Shuttlewood Music Programme.
The serious nature of these charges has cast a shadow over what was once a prominent local broadcasting career, with the legal process now delayed as the court determines the defendant's medical capacity for trial.
