This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/kent/6917085.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Langham cleared of four charges | Langham cleared of four charges |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Comedy actor Chris Langham has been cleared of four charges of indecent assault after prosecutors agreed to drop them during his trial. | Comedy actor Chris Langham has been cleared of four charges of indecent assault after prosecutors agreed to drop them during his trial. |
| Judge Philip Statman directed jurors to formally find him not guilty of the four charges allegedly carried out on a girl under 16 between 1996 and 1998. | Judge Philip Statman directed jurors to formally find him not guilty of the four charges allegedly carried out on a girl under 16 between 1996 and 1998. |
| The 58-year-old, from Kent, denies a further six counts of indecent assault and two of serious sexual assault. | The 58-year-old, from Kent, denies a further six counts of indecent assault and two of serious sexual assault. |
| He also denies 15 counts of making an indecent image of a child in 2005. | He also denies 15 counts of making an indecent image of a child in 2005. |
| The Maidstone Crown Court jury was told by Judge Statman: "The Crown accepts that there is no evidence to support these particular counts on the indictment." | The Maidstone Crown Court jury was told by Judge Statman: "The Crown accepts that there is no evidence to support these particular counts on the indictment." |
| But he added: "May I please stress to you that this in no way affects your consideration of the other counts because you will be looking at the evidence separately in due course." | But he added: "May I please stress to you that this in no way affects your consideration of the other counts because you will be looking at the evidence separately in due course." |
| Admitted arrogance | |
| Mr Langham was in tears as he took the witness box for the first time on Thursday. | |
| He admitted he had been arrogant for looking at child pornography and said he realised there was no excuse. | |
| Referring to his arrest for looking at child porn on the internet, he said: "They had me on a plate because I said I did it, but they weren't happy. | |
| "They wanted to convict me on the basis I had an abnormal interest in children, that I'm a paedophile, and I'm not. | |
| "That part of the crime is a life sentence and that is the part of the crime I did not do. | |
| "I have to stand up and tell you the truth but I will not stand here and admit a crime I didn't commit. | |
| "I'd like to make it clear I am not taking the crime I committed lightly. | |
| "I did it in an arrogant way, I know who I am. I know who I am. And I did a very arrogant thing to not think that the law applied to me." | |
| The trial continues. |