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Langham cleared of four charges Langham says 'I'm no paedophile'
(40 minutes later)
Comedy actor Chris Langham has been cleared of four charges of indecent assault after prosecutors agreed to drop them during his trial. Actor Chris Langham has appeared in the witness box at his child sex trial and said he is not a paedophile.
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 has admitted viewing child porn on websites for research purposes but said that was "no excuse".
The 58-year-old, from Kent, denies a further six counts of indecent assault and two of serious sexual assault. Earlier jurors at Maidstone Crown Court had been directed to clear Mr Langham of four counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16 between 1996 and 1998.
Mr Langham, 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 actor claims the pornography was downloaded from the internet as research for the BBC television series Help.
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.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. Referring to his arrest for looking at child porn, 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."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."That part of the crime is a life sentence and that is the part of the crime I did not do.
I did a very arrogant thing to not think that the law applied to me Chris Langham
"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 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'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.""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."
When directing the jury to clear Mr Langham of the four indecent assault charges, Judge Philip Statman said: "The Crown accepts that there is no evidence to support these particular counts on the indictment.
"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."
The trial continues.The trial continues.