Couple known as 'Richard and Judy of local radio' encouraged boys to have sex in woods, court told

One boy alleged that he saw the couple in the woods while playing golf and claimed that, when his ball went into the rough part of the course, Mrs Wadsworth told him "if you want your ball back you will have to come and get it".

The ex-BBC Radio Leicester presenters admitted they had "outdoor hanky panky" in order to "spice up their sex life", but denied doing it in front of anyone.

The Wadsworths are alleged to have had sex in front of a group of boys who were "mainly 14", Mrs Wadsworth is said to have engaged in sexual activity with boys as young as 11.

Both have denied five counts of outraging public decency between July 1992 and June 1996 and their trial began at Warwick Crown Court on Friday.

Mr Wadsworth also pleaded not guilty to ten charges of indecent assault against seven boys aged under 18 between September 1992 and August 1999.

Dressed in a burgundy suit and wearing spectacles, he sat beside his wife, wearing a dark grey suit, in the dock.

Opening the case, prosecutor Miranda Moore QC said: "We are dealing with events between the years 1992 and 1996 so what we are talking about is some time ago.

"They were partial to having sexual activities in the outdoors. It was part of the edge of Atherstone Golf Club. It is a vast area of trees and shrubs.

"The couple, Mr and Mrs Wadsworth, also known as Julie Mayer, has admitted that they would engage in sexual activities outdoors.

"She described it to police as 'outdoor hanky panky.' They both deny that they engaged in any sexual activity whilst young lads were there.

"They did it in the open knowing the young lads were watching. The boys we are concerned with were mainly 14, but one was quite a bit younger.

"The activity started in the summer of 1992. The boys were too young by law to take part in any sexual activity or display.

"Even though nobody forced them to do anything, that does not matter. What would happen was following observation by the lads, Julie would engage in sexual activity with them.

"The boys were all under the age of consent, this would have been obvious to grown-ups such as Mr and Mrs Wadsworth."

Ms Moore said Mrs Wadsworth was "doing the activity", but the defendant's husband watched and "occasionally" performed a sex act on himself.

Mrs Wadsworth would sometimes tell the boys that her husband was "just keeping a lookout", the prosecutor said.

Ms Moore added: "Sometimes it was Tony who called a halt to what they were doing, he was calling the shots on occasions.

"One of the boys Julie would continue to see, she would lean out of her window at home and invite him to her house for sex when Tony was out of the way."

The court heard on September 5, 1992 the couple were having sex against a tree in full view of a group of young boys.

Ms Moore added: "They asked a group of young lads if there was anywhere close by that was more secluded.

"One of the boys told the police was he was listening to a report about historical sex offences.

"He thought back to when he was 14 and Googled them and immediately recognised the woman as someone he had sexual encounters with in 1992.

"He was playing with his mates on their push bikes. As they played in the park there was a woman close by who had no knickers on.

"It was obviously Julie Wadsworth who was wearing a split skirt and no knickers. They invited the boys to watch them.

"They were fully aware that they were there. They only stopped when members of the public walked by and carried on when the coast was clear.

"Julie asked if there was anywhere more private than this and one of the boys remembers Mrs Wadsworth being giggly.

"It progressed to the couple having full sexual intercourse against a tree. She told them to meet up again the following week and they could join in."

Jurors were told that the couple later met the boys and Mr Wandsworth brought a camera along to film the encounter.

Ms Moore said: "One boy remembers her wearing a mac, short skirt and white stockings. One boy went with her and returned after a few minutes because he was spooked by Mr Wadsworth being there with a camera.

"Another of the boys remembers Julie saying 'come closer come closer, join in.' One of the boys saw Mrs Wandsworth a month after his first encounter when he was playing golf.

"He hit his ball into the rough part of the course, known as Devil's Hollow, and saw the couple in the woods again. Julie said 'if you want your ball back you will have to come and get it.' 

"You have boys who all give roughly similar accounts. The question for you (the jury) to consider is did these acts happen at all.

"In short, are the boys liars? What was Mr Wadsworth doing there? The prosecution say he was there by agreement with his wife to lookout and encourage her."

Ms Moore added: "She had sexual activity with boys again and again. For the second group of lads, somebody said they had seen a flasher.

"They all went to see what they were on about. Julie was sunbathing topless. She said 'do you want to come and have a play' to one of the boys and he refused and went home to have his tea.

"One of the boys said 'you were almost groomed to believe you were doing nothing wrong. The 11-year-old boy saw the couple having sex in front of the other boys. He said he looked his age at that time.

"Her husband knew about it, it was just a bit of fun. Speaking to police, Julie said 'there was a time we used to go for a walk up to the Outwoods but we were a couple who enjoyed a bit of outdoor hanky panky.'

"'She said 'I have no idea who the boys are they were never mentioned to me'."

The couple, of Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, deny the charges and the trial continues.