BBC presenter caught with child abuse films and photos

A former Radio 1 DJ who worked alongside Jimmy Savile sobbed today as he admitted hoarding ­sickening child porn.

Michael Willis, 69, shot to fame on pirate station Radio Caroline and worked at the BBC under the name of Stevie Merike in the 1970s – when disgraced Savile was also a presenter.

He later presented BBC Radio 1’s ‘Pop Workshop’ and deputised for Tony Blackburn on the Breakfast Show.

Willis also hosted the 1975 TV show Pop Quest and interviewed stars including T-Rex’s Marc Bolan.

He stood as a Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Loughborough in the 2010 General Election but failed to win the seat, despite securing almost 10,000 votes.

Hiding: Michael Willis aka Radio 1 DJ Steve Merike and his former colleague Jimmy Savile.

Leicester Crown Court was told he also lectured at Nottingham Trent University and was a governor at a number of schools.

A raid on his home in Loughborough, Leics, turned up 500 indecent photos of children and 306 horrific films.

The pervert told police he had been researching the material after being intrigued by the Savile affair.

Michael Collis, defending, blamed his offending on “what had gone on in his early years”.

He also said the breakdown of Willis’ second marriage in 2007 was a “catalyst” for him downloading the images.

Recorder Simon Ward told him at Leicester crown court: “When you look at images of children being raped, you are witnessing very serious sexual crimes.”

Willis was given a nine-month suspended prison sentence and was also banned from using any internet device where its web history is not retained.

If he is found to have deleted his history, he could be jailed for five years.

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