Former DJ Ray Teret gets 25 years for string of sex attacks

Former celebrity radio DJ Ray Teret, a friend of Jimmy Savile, has been jailed for 25 years for a series of rapes and indecent assaults on girls as young as 12 during the 1960s and 70s, the BBC reports.

The 73-year-old from Altrincham was told by Mr Justice Baker at a Manchester court this morning that he would probably spend the rest of his life in jail. As he was taken to the cells, some of his victims cheered and clapped from the public gallery.

After Teret was convicted last week of seven counts of rape and 11 counts of indecent assault, police revealed a further four women have come forward with fresh allegations against the former DJ. The abuse led some women to self-harm or left them in need of psychiatric and medical treatment.

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Teret exploited his celebrity status to abuse young girls who "had little or no understanding what was happening to them and felt they could do little to prevent the abuse taking place", the judge said today.

Teret was known as Ugly Ray during his early days as a DJ on pirate station Radio Caroline. One witness told the court he followed serial abuser Savile "around like a shadow" in the 70s.

The judge said that a lack of sex education in the 1960s and 70s had made it easier for Teret to get away with his crimes. He said: "Anyone who considers that society was a better place then than now to be a child would do well to reflect upon the evidence."

He added that Teret's actions had "cast a dark shadow" over the lives of his victims.

He added: "I know from speaking to them personally how devastating the effects of his abuse have been. They have courageously relived their ordeal at court and should be applauded for having the bravery to speak out and bring this man to justice for his appalling crimes".