Tragic BBC girl, 15, was 'abused by world famous singer'

The 15-year-old girl at the centre of the Tony Blackburn sex claims was abused by a "world famous" singer she met on Top of the Pops, it was claimed today. 

Kelly Gold, a close friend of Claire McAlpine and victim of paedophile DJ Jimmy Savile, waived her anonymity to claim the teenager was taken to a hotel by the star after being picked out of the crowd on the BBC show in 1971.

The pair had dinner and then had sex, she claims.

Weeks later, Miss McAlpine committed suicide at her home in Watford.

Mrs Gold, who was pictured with Miss McAlpine on stage during the show dancing with Savile, vowed to name the star who she says is still alive.

The former nurse, 60, told the Sunday Mirror BBC roadies picked Miss McAlpine before she was "whisked away" to spend the night with the star at the hotel in west London.

The singer, she claims, went on to have several hits and is a household name.

"Claire's voice needs to be heard and her death fully investigated. Several people involved in abusing her are still alive," she said.

"She has been labelled a fantasist in a bid to cover up what happened. She would still be alive today if they had listened to her."

Miss McAlpine left behind a diary containing claims she had slept with Blackburn, an allegation he has always strongly denied. 

Today, further allegations emerged as it was revealed a woman has claimed Blackburn took her out on dates when she was 14 and he was 23.

Denis Stone told The Sun on Sunday she had a series of dates with Blackburn in 1966 after meeting him in her home town of Poole, Dorset.

A spokesman for Blackburn said he strenuously denies the claims, adding the veteran radio host has "never dated or met this woman".

Mrs Stone, now 63, told the paper: "I met him at a place called Rockley Sands. It used to put on bands.

"It was a caravan park that my parents used to manage. I was 14 at the time and we got chatting.

"But he was the perfect gentleman and he never suggested anything. It was completely innocent.

"He asked me if I would like to go for a drink and because he had a car I thought yes. I didn't know who he was - he just said his name was Tony.

"He used to pick me up and we used to go for drives. I probably saw him six times in all over a period of about three months.

"My mum and dad didn't know - said I was going out with friends."

Blackburn, 73, had his £200,000-a-year BBC contract terminated last week following a dispute over his testimony to the independent review into Savile's sexual abuse at the BBC.

Blackburn told Dame Janet that he had not been quizzed by Bill Cotton, a senior BBC executive, and Sir Brian Neill QC, a lawyer who oversaw an inquiry into Top of the Pops, over allegations that he invited Miss McAlpine back to his flat and seduced her.

But he later told the retired judge, via his solicitor, that he accepted that she "might well prefer" documentary evidence that showed that the questioning had taken place.

Following the release of the report, Director-general Lord Tony Hall said he "fell short of the standards of evidence that such an inquiry demanded".

Blackburn, who hosted shows on Radio 2 and BBC Radio London, claimed he has been made a scapegoat and will launch a personal libel action against Lord Hall.