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| Ex-Coronation Street actor cleared of indecent assault | Ex-Coronation Street actor cleared of indecent assault |
| (4 months later) | |
| A former Coronation Street actor has been cleared of four counts of indecently assaulting a 15-year-old boy. | A former Coronation Street actor has been cleared of four counts of indecently assaulting a 15-year-old boy. |
| Andrew Lancel, 42, who played Frank Foster in the soap, was cleared of four charges dating back to 1994, when the teenager was attending a theatre group. | Andrew Lancel, 42, who played Frank Foster in the soap, was cleared of four charges dating back to 1994, when the teenager was attending a theatre group. |
| The jury at Liverpool crown court took 29 minutes to clear him of all counts. Lancel bit his lip and looked to the ceiling as his wife, Louise, burst into tears in the public gallery when the verdict was delivered. | The jury at Liverpool crown court took 29 minutes to clear him of all counts. Lancel bit his lip and looked to the ceiling as his wife, Louise, burst into tears in the public gallery when the verdict was delivered. |
| The actor, from Gateacre in Liverpool, was charged last November under his real name, Andrew Watkinson. | The actor, from Gateacre in Liverpool, was charged last November under his real name, Andrew Watkinson. |
| The judge, Clement Goldstone QC, said: "The defendant was acquitted on the evidence, and rightly so, but it is important that the complainant, who is clearly scarred by an experience, should understand that the jury verdicts does not necessarily involve rejection of his account of a sexual encounter or encounters with the defendant. | The judge, Clement Goldstone QC, said: "The defendant was acquitted on the evidence, and rightly so, but it is important that the complainant, who is clearly scarred by an experience, should understand that the jury verdicts does not necessarily involve rejection of his account of a sexual encounter or encounters with the defendant. |
| "It is a statement that the prosecution have failed to make the jury sure that abuse of the type alleged occurred during the period covered by the indictment and in particular before the complainant's 16th birthday, now more than 18 years ago." | "It is a statement that the prosecution have failed to make the jury sure that abuse of the type alleged occurred during the period covered by the indictment and in particular before the complainant's 16th birthday, now more than 18 years ago." |
| Lancel declined to comment on the case as he left court. His solicitor, Stuart Nolan, read a short statement which said: "Andrew would like to thank his family and friends and all parties for their support and prayers. He just wants to spend time with his family." | Lancel declined to comment on the case as he left court. His solicitor, Stuart Nolan, read a short statement which said: "Andrew would like to thank his family and friends and all parties for their support and prayers. He just wants to spend time with his family." |
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