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| Coronation Street star William Roache to face rape charges | Coronation Street star William Roache to face rape charges |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Coronation Street star William Roache is to be charged with two counts of rape involving a 15-year-old girl in the 1960s, prosecutors have said. | |
| Mr Roache, 81, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, is alleged to have committed the rapes in Haslingden, Lancashire, between April and July 1967, police said. | Mr Roache, 81, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, is alleged to have committed the rapes in Haslingden, Lancashire, between April and July 1967, police said. |
| Mr Roache, who plays Ken Barlow in the ITV soap, has not commented. | |
| An ITV spokesman said the actor would not be appearing in the programme until legal proceedings were concluded. | |
| Prosecutors said Mr Roache would appear before Preston magistrates on 14 May. | |
| 'Public interest' | 'Public interest' |
| Chief Crown Prosecutor Nazir Afzal said the evidence against Mr Roache had been "carefully considered" and as a result, the Crown Prosecution Service would be charging him with two counts of rape. | Chief Crown Prosecutor Nazir Afzal said the evidence against Mr Roache had been "carefully considered" and as a result, the Crown Prosecution Service would be charging him with two counts of rape. |
| "We have been reviewing evidence and providing early investigative advice to Lancashire Police since 1 March," he said. | "We have been reviewing evidence and providing early investigative advice to Lancashire Police since 1 March," he said. |
| "Having completed our review, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Roache to be charged." | "Having completed our review, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Roache to be charged." |
| Earlier, a spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "An 81-year-old man from Wilmslow in Cheshire has this morning, Wednesday May 1 2013, been arrested by Lancashire Constabulary on suspicion of rape. | Earlier, a spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "An 81-year-old man from Wilmslow in Cheshire has this morning, Wednesday May 1 2013, been arrested by Lancashire Constabulary on suspicion of rape. |
| "We take all allegations of sexual abuse extremely seriously and would encourage people with any information about sexual abuse, or anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse, to come forward and report their concerns confident in the knowledge they will be investigated appropriately and with sensitivity." | "We take all allegations of sexual abuse extremely seriously and would encourage people with any information about sexual abuse, or anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse, to come forward and report their concerns confident in the knowledge they will be investigated appropriately and with sensitivity." |
| Two police officers have been stationed by the closed wrought iron gates outside the star's home during the day. Mr Roache was driven past them and the assembled media back towards his home at about 21:45 BST. | Two police officers have been stationed by the closed wrought iron gates outside the star's home during the day. Mr Roache was driven past them and the assembled media back towards his home at about 21:45 BST. |
| Mr Roache has an award from Guinness World Records for being the world's longest-serving soap actor, having played Ken Barlow since Coronation Street's first episode. | Mr Roache has an award from Guinness World Records for being the world's longest-serving soap actor, having played Ken Barlow since Coronation Street's first episode. |
| A Coronation Street spokesman said: "Given that a police investigation is under way it would not be appropriate to comment." | A Coronation Street spokesman said: "Given that a police investigation is under way it would not be appropriate to comment." |