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Coronation Street's William Roache 'attacked girl in toilet' Coronation Street's William Roache 'attacked girl in toilet'
(35 minutes later)
Coronation Street star William Roache indecently assaulted a 14-year-old girl in the men's toilet at the Granada TV studios in Manchester and then sent her a signed photo, a court has heard.Coronation Street star William Roache indecently assaulted a 14-year-old girl in the men's toilet at the Granada TV studios in Manchester and then sent her a signed photo, a court has heard.
Sending the letter "was a sort of grooming as we nowadays know it," prosecutor Anne Whyte QC said.Sending the letter "was a sort of grooming as we nowadays know it," prosecutor Anne Whyte QC said.
Mr Roache, 81, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, denies two counts of raping a 15-year-old girl in East Lancashire in 1967.Mr Roache, 81, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, denies two counts of raping a 15-year-old girl in East Lancashire in 1967.
He also denies five counts of indecent assault involving four girls.He also denies five counts of indecent assault involving four girls.
Those alleged offences took place on girls aged from 11 to 16 in Manchester between 1965 and 1968, Preston Crown Court heard.Those alleged offences took place on girls aged from 11 to 16 in Manchester between 1965 and 1968, Preston Crown Court heard.
Miss Whyte said: "William Roache is, as you all know, an actor. He has spent much of his adult life playing a part. The jury heard the alleged victim of the indecent assault in the toilet, now aged 63, was 14 in 1965 when the actor approached her.
'Fictional image' That summer she visited Granada Studios in central Manchester with a friend to take part in a talent show, and afterwards she saw Mr Roache in the building and recognised him, Miss Whyte said.
"It is very important that you remember at all times that you are here to judge the man and not the part. "She and her friend ended up in a dressing room with the defendant and other actors," the prosecutor said.
"Mr Roache presents a fictional image of himself for a living - it is part and parcel of his work and fame. 'Star-struck teenagers'
"But in this room, with you, he is William Roache, not Ken Barlow. He is the defendant and you are the jury." Both left the room and he led her by the arm to the men's toilet, where he allegedly made her commit a sex act on him.
She continued: "He faces seven separate criminal charges. The allegations are made by five different women - each of them says that he sexually abused them during the 1960s. "There was no conversation and they went back to the dressing room where her friend was still chatting to an actor.
"He denies that this is the case and your task will be to decide whether these women are telling the truth." "Then both men left the room and she and her friend made their way out of the building.
"She had been stunned by what had occurred and went home."
Afterwards, Mr Roache sent her a letter and a signed photograph of himself.
But this was not a "benign personal touch" by a "well-known young male actor", the court heard.
Instead it was a deliberate act, Miss Whyte said, "designed to impress a young schoolgirl and to secure her unquestioning loyalty as a fan for a sexual purpose. A sort of grooming, as we would nowadays call it".
The girl felt "flattered", even though she knew what had happened was wrong.
"This, the Crown say, demonstrates how easy it is for someone in the defendant's position to manipulate the trust and attention of star-struck teenagers," the court heard.
'Powerful factor''Powerful factor'
The prosecutor said the first complainant in the case contacted police last March. The victim reported the matter to police last May after hearing Mr Roache had been charged with raping a 15-year-old girl.
That complainant, now in her 60s, was the first person to come forward and contacted police last March, Miss Whyte said.
She said: "In the context of discussing other sex scandals involving the late Cyril Smith and Jimmy Savile, her son had expressed disbelief about how long it had taken for victims of sexual offences to come forward.She said: "In the context of discussing other sex scandals involving the late Cyril Smith and Jimmy Savile, her son had expressed disbelief about how long it had taken for victims of sexual offences to come forward.
"His mother tried to explain, and in this case she knows. She eventually told her son about what had happened many years before with the defendant.""His mother tried to explain, and in this case she knows. She eventually told her son about what had happened many years before with the defendant."
Her son told her to contact police which she eventually did, said Miss Whyte.Her son told her to contact police which she eventually did, said Miss Whyte.
Mr Roache was arrested on 1 May and, after being interviewed, he was charged with two offences of rape. Mr Roache was arrested on 1 May and, after being interviewed, was charged with two offences of rape.
The jury was told the alleged rape took place at two of his properties in Haslingden, Lancashire, in 1967 when the girl was 15. The jury was told the alleged attacks took place at two of his properties in Haslingden, Lancashire, in 1967.
The publicity that followed led to other complainants coming forward. The publicity that followed led to other people coming forward.
Apart from two of the alleged victims who were sisters, there was nothing else to link any of the complainants, the court heard.Apart from two of the alleged victims who were sisters, there was nothing else to link any of the complainants, the court heard.
Miss Whyte said the Crown argued that this should be a "powerful factor" in the jury's assessment of the evidence.Miss Whyte said the Crown argued that this should be a "powerful factor" in the jury's assessment of the evidence.
'Slept with many women''Slept with many women'
Women who do not know each other are complaining about his behaviour from the same broad period of time, she said.Women who do not know each other are complaining about his behaviour from the same broad period of time, she said.
The sisters who allege they were indecently assaulted used to sit on the steps of the TV studios, the court heard. The two sisters who allege they were indecently assaulted used to sit on the steps of the TV studios, the court heard.
Other alleged attacks took place in his Rolls-Royce.Other alleged attacks took place in his Rolls-Royce.
When he was arrested Mr Roache was "absolutely surprised and amazed. He appeared visibly shocked", Miss Whyte said. Miss Whyte said: "William Roache is, as you all know, an actor. He has spent much of his adult life playing a part.
"It is very important that you remember at all times that you are here to judge the man and not the part."
When he was arrested Mr Roache was "absolutely surprised and amazed. He appeared visibly shocked", she said.
She said he told police he had "taken the opportunity to sleep with many women but this had always been with their consent" adding "he had never sought out girls under the age of 16 because such girls did not interest him sexually".She said he told police he had "taken the opportunity to sleep with many women but this had always been with their consent" adding "he had never sought out girls under the age of 16 because such girls did not interest him sexually".
Mr Roache, who has not appeared in Coronation Street while legal proceedings were ongoing, "strenuously" denies the allegations.Mr Roache, who has not appeared in Coronation Street while legal proceedings were ongoing, "strenuously" denies the allegations.