Ray Teret: a former pedophile DJ and friend of Jimmy Savile dies in prison | Ents & Arts News

A radio DJ friend of Jimmy Savile has died in prison, seven years after being jailed for raping and assaulting teenage girls.

Ray Teret, a former Radio Caroline presenter in Altrincham, was mentored by pedophile Savile in the early days of his career and is said to have followed “like a shadow”. He also acted as his driver, according to reports.

A spokesperson for the prison service said he died on Tuesday, aged 79.

“Ray Teret, prisoner of HMP Manchester, died in prison on May 5,” a statement read. “The Prison and Probation Ombudsman has been notified.”

Teret, known as Ugly Ray, preyed on girls ages 13-15 in the 1960s and 1970s, using his status as a well-known face on the Manchester club scene.

He was jailed for 25 years in 2014 after a jury at Manchester Crown Court Minshull Street found him guilty of seven rapes and 11 indecent assaults against 11 plaintiffs.

The cause of his death has not been officially confirmed, although he has previously battled COVID-19 and suffered from cancer, according to the Manchester Evening News. His death was reported to the Manchester coroner’s office.

During his trial, Teret, who also worked at Piccadilly Radio in Manchester and Signal Radio in Staffordshire, attempted to distance himself from Savile, who died in 2011.

He claimed they were not close and said he had never lived with Savile or acted as his driver.

During his conviction, the judge told Teret: “It is clear that you have exploited your celebrity status to sexually abuse young girls between the ages of 13 and 15.

“Those who were raped had little or no understanding of what was happening to them and felt that there was little they could do to prevent the abuse.”