Dave Lee Travis named as third star arrested in Jimmy Savile sex abuse probe

- DLT is third celebrity arrested in connection with historic sex abuse allegations- He previously strongly denied sex abuse allegations- Gary Glitter and Freddie Star previously held- Former BBC producer Wilfred De'ath also arrested- De’ath and Glitter both deny allegations
April 1981: British disc jockey and television presenter, Dave Lee Travis.
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Dave Lee Travis today became the fourth person to be arrested as part of the on-going investigation into sex abuse.

The former BBC radio DJ is the third media personality to be held by detectives looking into the numerous claims in the wake of Jimmy Savile's death.

The 67-year-old presenter was at his at his Bedfordshire home when he was arrested at 7.45am on suspicion of sexual offences.

Mr Travis, who has maintained his innocence had earlier said he wanted to talk to police.

He was later bailed to return on a date in early January, pending further investigation.

Pop star Gary Glitter, 68, and comic Freddie Starr, 69 have also been arrested and bailed for similar offences, as well as a former BBC producer Wilfred De’ath, 73.

Mr Travis was arrested as part of Operation Yewtree led by the Metropolitan Police.

Detectives today revealed around 450 potential victims have come forward and 200 allegations of sexual assault have been made.

This has risen from around 300 possible victims the force said they were dealing with last month.

Last month two women claimed they were sexually assaulted by the former DJ.

Ex-Sky presenter Vivien Creegor, 55, said he jiggled her breasts while she was on air on Radio 4. Another woman said he put his hand up her skirt.

But Travis angrily denied the claims at the time. He insisted: “It’s nonsense, completely untrue. If police get in touch, I’m happy to get it sorted. I hate being tarred with the same brush as Savile.”

Officers are looking at three strands within their inquiry: claims against Savile, those against Savile and others, and those against others.

Most of the “others” allegations have been made against people associated with the entertainment industry.

De’ath, a producer for Savile on BBC radio show Teen Scene, was arrested on Sunday as part of Operation Yewtree.

He was held for around five hours at Parkside police station in Cambridge before he was freed on police bail and taken back to his home pending further inquiries.

Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was arrested first and questioned at a London police station after being detained at his home in the capital.

Starr was arrested next. He was arrested twice and released on bail for a second time earlier this month as part of the Savile abuse inquiry.

He has consistently denied any involvement in the alleged abuse.

Travis met Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi when she visited the UK earlier this year.

The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate said she listened to his programme, A Jolly Good Show, during her time under house arrest in Rangoon.

Dave Lee Travis said he was pleased to know the show had lifted her spirits, adding that he found her ‘’just fantastic’’.

She has been quoted as saying: “I would listen to that quite happily because the listeners would write in and I had a chance to hear other people’s words. It made my world much more complete.”

Children’s charity the NSPCC said it had received 236 calls about Savile, an average of five per day, since the first sexual abuse allegations emerged.

The number of contacts made about other claims of sexual abuse has trebled in the last month, rising to 550.

Director of the NSPCC’s helpline Peter Watt said: “It’s crucial that people continue to come forward, whether they have information about Savile or anyone else. Our prime focus has to be on protecting children, particularly those unable to speak out themselves, and bringing offenders to justice.

“Sometimes people wait months or years before reporting abuse but we would urge them to act quickly so they can get help as soon as possible. While the whole Savile episode has been distressing it has also led to more victims of abuse seeking support, which is positive.”

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