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Actor Langham 'abused as a child' Actor Langham 'abused as a child'
(40 minutes later)
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.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.
Giving evidence for the first time at his child sex trial, Mr Langham, 58, said it happened in a tent in Ontario.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.
He denies another six indecent assault charges and two of serious sex 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.
Mr Langham told the court the abuse took place when he was eight but he did not know how many nights it happened.Mr Langham told the court the abuse took place when he was eight but he did not know how many nights it happened.
"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."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.
"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.""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."
He said he did not want to go into details about the abuse but felt "deep, deep shame" about the incident.He said he did not want to go into details about the abuse but felt "deep, deep shame" about the incident.
"I hate myself for that, and have always hated myself for my approval-seeking," he said."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.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 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."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.""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.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 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.He admitted he had been arrogant for looking at child pornography and said he realised there was no excuse.
'No evidence''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.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. But he added: "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. 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. The jury was then saw an episode of Help and Mr Langham explained that a character called Pedro was introduced to the show to explore the stance society should take against paedophiles.
He said looking at the internet helped develop the character.
"I know about being at the receiving end of a paedophile but I don't know about paedophilia, the networks, the slang, what does the room look like," he said.
Earlier, 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.