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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 Langham | I 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. |
But he added: "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." |
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. |