Pubdate: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 Source: Times, The (UK) Copyright: 1999 Times Newspapers Ltd Contact: http://www.the-times.co.uk/ Author: Trudy Harris RADIO 2 DJ KEEPS HIS JOB AFTER COCAINE CONVICTION The BBC disc jockey Johnnie Walker was convicted yesterday of possessing cocaine and fined pounds 2,000 after he was caught in a sting operation organised by a newspaper. Shortly afterwards, Radio 2 announced that Walker would be reinstated to his drive-time programme. He was suspended in April when allegations about his cocaine use were published. BBC Radio said it was impressed by the way in which he had handled the allegations and his decision to seek treatment for drug misuse. Horseferry Road Magistrates' Court was told that Walker had gone to the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on with four journalists posing as Arab businessmen to discuss a deal to produce a radio demonstration tape. In the hotel room, Walker produced a small amount of cocaine and put it on a table after he and the reporters had talked about the availability of drugs. Secret cameras captured the entire meeting. The News of the World later published extensive details of the meeting. Antony Chinn, in mitigation, said he had made full and frank confessions to police. A charge of intent to supply cocaine was dropped. Rosalind Keating, the magistrate, said that Walker, like other celebrities, had to maintain high standards because he was in the public eye, but she expressed disgust at the methods used by the journalists to expose Walker. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D