Former Radio 1 DJ Chris Denning has admitted a total of 41 sex offence charges against young boys in a series of crimes spanning 20 years. Denning, 73, of Basildon in Essex, pleaded guilty to 10 charges of indecent assault on a male, a charge of gross indecency and another of indecency with a child when he appeared in custody at Southwark Crown Court in London.
He has previously admitted 29 charges - including 26 counts of indecent assault on a male and three of indecency with a child - at a hearing at Southwark Crown Court in August. One of his victims was just nine years old. It means that Denning is set to be sentenced on 41 charges when he next appears in custody at the same venue on December 9.
Scotland Yard said the offences involve 26 male victims who were assaulted between 1967 and 1987. Today Denning also denied one count of indecent assault on a male person. Denning was one of the original Radio 1 line-up when the station was launched in 1967.
He was also the first announcer heard on BBC2 when the television channel took to the air in 1964. He was first arrested by detectives from sex crime inquiry Operation Yewtree in June last year. After the hearing Detective Chief Inspector Michael Orchard, from the sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse command, said: "Christopher Denning is a dangerous serial offender who committed numerous offences over a 20-year period against a large number of young boys.
"One of these victims was as young as nine years of age. Denning's only redeeming quality is that he has not made his victims go through the trial process. I would like to thank the victims for their bravery and courage in coming forward. I hope that Denning's admittance of guilt is the first step in helping them move on with their lives."
Baljit Ubhey, chief crown prosecutor for the CPS in London, said: "The scale of Chris Denning's child sexual abuse is truly shocking. His offending spanned 20 years and his youngest victim was aged just nine at the time of the attack. The compelling evidence in this case left Chris Denning with little option but to plead guilty. I am pleased that the guilty pleas mean a potentially lengthy trial has been avoided and the victims will not be required to give evidence."