In 2021, the Offender Database recorded that former radio DJ Ray Teret died while serving a 25-year sentence for historical sexual atrocities. On Wednesday, 5 May 2021, the HM Prison Service confirmed that the 80-year-old died at HMP Manchester, Greater Manchester, where he was being held for raping and assaulting girls as young as 12.
The investigation established that Teret, a former Radio Caroline DJ and close associate of Jimmy Savile, utilised his celebrity status in the North West to groom and exploit “naive and inexperienced” girls during the 1960s and 1970s. Following his arrest, Teret was convicted at Manchester Crown Court in 2014 of seven rapes and 11 indecent assaults. Greater Manchester Police described him as a “devious and manipulative sexual predator” who abused his position in the worst possible way.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Teret had once worked as Jimmy Savile’s chauffeur and was a well-known figure in the Manchester media scene. The judge noted that the defendant repeatedly tried to distance himself from Savile during the trial to avoid further scrutiny, but the evidence proved a consistent pattern of predatory behaviour. The prosecution stated that the victims were in awe of his celebrity status, which Teret exploited to facilitate his crimes.
The judge noted the devastating long-term impact on the survivors, who came forward decades after the abuse occurred. For his actions in Manchester, Greater Manchester, the court determined that a 25-year sentence was necessary to reflect the scale of his depravity. The prosecution noted that the investigation by Greater Manchester Police was instrumental in bringing justice to women who had lived with the trauma of Teret’s actions for nearly 50 years.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Ray Teret was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 25 years in prison (died in custody).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- Judicial Oversight: Convicted on 18 counts, including rape and indecent assault, at Manchester Crown Court.
- Status: Deceased as of May 2021.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Teret was managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Greater Manchester Police and the prison estate until his death. Due to his notoriety and the nature of his historical offences in Manchester, his management was subject to the highest level of oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a registered sex offender, Teret remained under strict notification requirements while at HMP Manchester. Authorities state that although his death marks the end of his custodial term, his case remains a significant landmark in the prosecution of historical media-linked abuse. Any further inquiries into the 1960s and 70s Manchester music and radio scene continue to reference the “manipulative” tactics Teret used to evade justice for so many decades.
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