A former regional daily journalist has revealed how she was left “mortified” after former BBC broadcaster Stuart Hall groped her on stage at an awards ceremony.

Beth Neil, a former features writer at the Newcastle Chronicle, said she was “manhandled” and slapped on the bottom by the former It’s a Knockout presenter as she collected a prize for Young Journalist of the Year in 2004.

She spoke out about the incident after Hall pleaded guilty last week to 14 counts of indecent assault against girls aged nine to 17.

Beth, who is now celebrity editor for The Sun Sunday’s Fabulous magazine, wrote a short article for The Sun about her encounter with the disgraced broadcaster at the awards ceremony nine years ago.

She revealed that her editor at the time, Paul Robertson, wrote to Hall to complain following the awards ceremony and that she received a letter of apology from him, along with an It’s A Knockout video.

Wrote Beth: “When I first heard that Hall had been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault, I can’t say I was surprised.

“In 2004 I was 24 and shortlisted for Young Journalist of the Year. Hall hosted the awards bash and when I was named as the winner he wouldn’t let me off the stage.

“He manhandled me up to the mic, holding me tight so I couldn’t escape while jiggling me about. It was excruciating. And when I walked off he spanked me hard on the backside. I was mortified.

“My editor complained and I got a letter from Hall. He apologised, said he was a ‘champion of young people’, and enclosed an It’s A Knockout video as ‘something to enjoy’.

“It gave an insight into a man at ease treating women as pieces of meat – and into his monstrous ego.”

After 83-year-old Hall admitted 14 counts of indecent assault in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, Society of Editors boss Bob Satchwell said the case showed that arrested suspects need to be named.

He said that Hall may never have been brought to court otherwise because his victims did not know each other.

Hall is due to be sentenced on 17 June.