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| Bill Roache to face trial in January | Bill Roache to face trial in January |
| (4 months later) | |
| The Coronation Street star Bill Roache will go on trial in January over allegations of historic sexual offences against five girls. | The Coronation Street star Bill Roache will go on trial in January over allegations of historic sexual offences against five girls. |
| The 81-year-old actor was charged in May with two counts of raping a 15-year-old girl in east Lancashire in 1967, and last week he faced fresh charges of five indecent assaults involving four girls aged between 11 or 12 and 16. | The 81-year-old actor was charged in May with two counts of raping a 15-year-old girl in east Lancashire in 1967, and last week he faced fresh charges of five indecent assaults involving four girls aged between 11 or 12 and 16. |
| On Monday, Roache appeared for a five-minute preliminary hearing at Preston crown court. His trial date was set for 13 January. He was bailed until his next court appearance on 2 September, when he will enter formal pleas. | On Monday, Roache appeared for a five-minute preliminary hearing at Preston crown court. His trial date was set for 13 January. He was bailed until his next court appearance on 2 September, when he will enter formal pleas. |
| Last week, Roache's lawyer said his client was looking forward to standing before a jury to "vigorously protest his innocence" over "deeply upsetting" child sex allegations. | Last week, Roache's lawyer said his client was looking forward to standing before a jury to "vigorously protest his innocence" over "deeply upsetting" child sex allegations. |
| The world's longest-serving soap actor has played Ken Barlow in the ITV1 soap since its launch but will not be appearing in the programme until legal proceedings are concluded. | The world's longest-serving soap actor has played Ken Barlow in the ITV1 soap since its launch but will not be appearing in the programme until legal proceedings are concluded. |
| On Monday he entered the dock and spoke only to confirm his full name. | On Monday he entered the dock and spoke only to confirm his full name. |
| He was granted conditional bail by the recorder of Preston, Judge Anthony Russell QC, and was warned he could face arrest if he does not attend his next court date. | He was granted conditional bail by the recorder of Preston, Judge Anthony Russell QC, and was warned he could face arrest if he does not attend his next court date. |
| The latest claims arose from the publicity over his arrest at his home in Wilmslow, Cheshire, on 1 May, and his subsequent charging on the same day. | The latest claims arose from the publicity over his arrest at his home in Wilmslow, Cheshire, on 1 May, and his subsequent charging on the same day. |
| The fresh alleged offences, which relate to separate alleged victims, are said to have been committed in the Manchester area in 1965 and 1968. | The fresh alleged offences, which relate to separate alleged victims, are said to have been committed in the Manchester area in 1965 and 1968. |
| Roache is on bail with various conditions including residence, no direct unsupervised contact with anyone under 16 and not to approach named witnesses. | Roache is on bail with various conditions including residence, no direct unsupervised contact with anyone under 16 and not to approach named witnesses. |
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