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Dave Lee Travis trial: DJ was 'very professional' over naked pictures of musician

Veteran DJ asked if he could take photos of Elisabeth Birks after he saw that she had interesting tattoos, court told

David Mercer,Dominic Harris
Wednesday 05 February 2014 08:56 EST
Radio presenter Dave Lee Travis arrives at Southwark Crown Court on 5 February 2014
Radio presenter Dave Lee Travis arrives at Southwark Crown Court on 5 February 2014 (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

A musician who was asked to model by radio DJ Dave Lee Travis said he was "very, very professional" when he took naked pictures of her at his house, a court heard.

Elisabeth Birks said she met Travis at a charity event at London's Battersea Park.

Travis asked her if he could take photos of her after he saw that she had interesting tattoos.

Travis, 68, is on trial accused of indecently assaulting 10 women and sexually assaulting another while working as a BBC DJ, as a broadcaster with Classic Gold radio, while appearing on Top Of The Pops and when starring in pantomime.

He denies all the charges.

Ms Birks told Southwark Crown Court she was about to take to the stage with her husband when Travis tapped her on the shoulder and said he liked a tattoo on her back, which he had seen because she was wearing a backless dress.

She said: "He was very friendly, he seemed lovely."

Ms Birks said Travis asked if she would model for him, which she was happy to do, and gave her his card so she could contact him.



She visited Travis's home in 2010 with her husband, where the DJ introduced the couple to his wife.

After he gave them tea and cakes and showed her previous photos he had taken, her husband went to watch films and his wife remained downstairs while Travis and Ms Birks went off to take photos together, she told the court.

Ms Birks said they started with her wearing a vest top and hot pants so Travis could take photos of her tattoos, but they eventually took pictures of her while she was naked.

Ms Birks said Travis was a "very, very professional photographer, very polite" and would always ask her if he wanted to physically move her.

She said: "He just made me feel very comfortable.

"Dave was very professional about it."

Asked if he ever did anything inappropriate, Ms Birks said: "No, not at all.

"I felt comfortable for the whole thing.

"Everything was fine."

Travis, from Buckinghamshire, is charged with 13 counts of indecent assault dating back to between 1976 and 2003, and one count of sexual assault.

He is appearing in court under his birth name David Griffin.

The defendant, wearing a grey suit, white shirt and patterned red and white tie, listened to the proceedings in the dock with the aid of earphones.

PA

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