AN Altrincham disc jockey has been convicted of an historic catalogue of sexual offences against women from the 1960s and 1970s.

Ray Teret, 73, of Woodlands Road, who was a former friend and chauffeur of paedophile Jimmy Savile, was convicted today at Minshull Street Crown Court.

After 60 hours of deliberation, the jury found the ex-Radio Caroline and Radio Piccadilly presenter guilty of seven rapes and 11 indecent assaults over three decades, and not guilty of one serious sexual assault in relation to 11 victims.

He was cleared of sexual offences in relation to six other complainants.

Teret was also cleared of aiding and abetting Savile to rape a 15-year-old girl in the early 1960s but was found guilty himself of raping the same complainant.

The court heard Teret used nightclubs and youth discos across Manchester as a hunting ground to meet young and impressionable underage girls. He would then take them back to his flat and rape them.

Teret, who used the stage name 'Ugly Ray Teret' and even had a gold bracelet emblazoned with the word 'UGLI', would walk around the dancefloor selecting young girls and showering them with attention.

Star struck and in awe of his celebrity status, these young girls would then go back to various properties Teret either owned or lodged in where he would rape them.

His offending finally came to light following the publicity surrounding the Jimmy Savile scandal in 2011. Moved by what she had seen on the news, the first of Teret's victims contacted police in October 2012 and Teret was arrested the following month.

The ensuing publicity caused a domino effect and a number of Teret's other victims then came forward.

There were two other Trafford men on trial with Teret.

Alan Ledger, 62, also from Woodlands Road, Altrincham, was found not guilty of a serious sex assault, not guilty of two indecent assaults and not guilty of one count of indecency with a child.

William Harper, 65, of Ash Grove, Stretford, known in his disc jockey days as Tony Grey, was cleared of one count of attempted rape.

Speaking after the case, Det Chief Inspector Graham Brock said: "This case has attracted a lot of media interest due to Teret's status and friendship with the late Jimmy Savile.

"And it is clear that Teret revelled in his association with Savile and used that cult of celebrity to meet - and rape - impressionable underage girls.

"There are no positives to take from Savile's appalling crimes, but by prompting Teret's victims to come forward, someone who is still alive has now been brought before the courts and finally made to answer for their heinous crimes.

"But it is important we look past the lurid headlines.

"We need to focus on the the victims who not only suffered appalling abuse at the hands of Teret, but also suffered in silence for decades, fearing they would not be believed, that it was their fault or that it would tear their families apart.

"These women have bravely relived the trauma they endured and given evidence in a courtroom, which can be a very intimidating and adversarial environment.

"They each had the courage to speak out about Teret and I would like to pay tribute to each of them.

"After years of living with these horrible memories, uncertain of how to make sense of what Teret did, they now have the official recognition that they were abused and it is testament to their bravery that justice has at last been done.

"Teret was a man who abused his celebrity status in the worst way imaginable. The girls he preyed upon were naïve and inexperienced and in thrall of who he was.

"Some have described it as like being with royalty or like going to bed with James Bond.

"Teret traded off that status and treated the clubs he performed in as hunting grounds to meet his victims.

"Once he had raped them, he discarded them like objects and moved on to his next victim.

"This was not a generational thing. This was not how it was in the '60s and '70s.

"Rape has always been rape and Teret took advantage of his fame and his power to manipulate the affections of impressionable young girls for his own sexual gratification.

"It is clear from the cold, cruel remarks he made to the victims, and the fact he carried on abusing girls for many years, that he thought he was untouchable, convinced by his own megalomania that he would never be caught.

"I hope anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation looks at this case and takes encouragement that Greater Manchester Police will not let sex offenders get away with abuse, no matter how much time has lapsed.

"Status and titles are irrelevant - we will pursue anyone, no matter who they are, if they committed historic sexual abuse."