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 2 Version 3
Langham says 'I'm no paedophile' Actor Langham 'abused as a child'
(40 minutes later)
Actor Chris Langham has appeared in the witness box at his child sex trial and said he is not a paedophile. Actor Chris Langham has revealed he was sexually abused as a child by a man who took him sailing while he was living in Canada with his family.
The 58-year-old has admitted viewing child porn on websites for research purposes but said that was "no excuse". Giving evidence for the first time at his child sex trial, Mr Langham, 58, said it happened in a tent in Ontario.
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.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 denies another six indecent assault charges and two of serious sex 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 actor claims the pornography was downloaded from the internet as research for the BBC television series Help. Mr Langham told the court the abuse took place when he was eight but he did not know how many nights it happened.
He admitted he had been arrogant for looking at child pornography and said he realised there was no excuse. "My parents had moved to Canada when I was five. I was quite a frightened child. I got beaten up all the time because I spoke with an English accent," he said.
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. "I was trying to be a snob like my parents, but it's hard to be a snob when you are not as good as the people around you."
"They wanted to convict me on the basis I had an abnormal interest in children, that I'm a paedophile, and I'm not. He said he did not want to go into details about the abuse but felt "deep, deep shame" about the incident.
"That part of the crime is a life sentence and that is the part of the crime I did not do. "I hate myself for that, and have always hated myself for my approval-seeking," he said.
I did a very arrogant thing to not think that the law applied to me Chris LanghamI did a very arrogant thing to not think that the law applied to me Chris Langham
He said he came across an indecent film of a child while searching on the internet for adult pornography in about January 2005.
"I opened it and it was not particularly vicious, but it was still a child. I closed it and I was very shaken by it," he said.
"I talked to my wife about it. I'm one of the children in the photographs.
"That's the problem I have with it. I don't know how to react to it."
Earlier, Mr Langham was in tears as he told the court he was not a paedophile.
He has previously admitted viewing child porn on websites for research for the BBC television comedy series Help.
He admitted he had been arrogant for looking at child pornography and said he realised there was no excuse.
'No evidence'
Referring to his arrest for looking at child porn, he said: "They wanted to convict me on the basis I had an abnormal interest in children, that I'm a paedophile, and I'm not.
"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. 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.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.""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.