Isle of Wight Festival Boss Faces Shocking Rape Trial
Ex-Cop and Festival Chief David Steele in Court Over 2015 Allegation
David Steele, Isle of Wight Festival’s operations manager and former police dog handler, is set to stand trial for rape. Steele spent 20 years with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police before switching careers. He denies the allegation, which dates back to July 2015 in Cowes.
Trial Locked In for January 2017 at Chichester Crown Court
The five-day rape trial will take place in January 2017. Steele has been granted conditional bail and is reportedly living with festival promoter John Giddings in Ryde during the trial period.
Festival Promoter and Organisers Silent on Allegations
Steele took charge of festival operations in late 2012. He entered a not guilty plea at a preliminary hearing in March 2016 before Recorder West QC. Attempts to get comments from John Giddings and Solo, the company behind the festival, were met with silence. Giddings declined to comment, while Solo said no one was available for interview.
Note: This story was held back until Steele’s current involvement with the festival was confirmed.
