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| William Roache: Coronation Street star found not guilty of all sexual abuse charges | William Roache: Coronation Street star found not guilty of all sexual abuse charges |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The Coronation Street star Bill Roache has been cleared of all charges following a trial for the alleged sexual abuse of five young girls. | The Coronation Street star Bill Roache has been cleared of all charges following a trial for the alleged sexual abuse of five young girls. |
| The 81-year-old, who plays Ken Barlow in the long-running ITV soap, was found not guilty of two counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault in the 1960s and 70s. | The 81-year-old, who plays Ken Barlow in the long-running ITV soap, was found not guilty of two counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault in the 1960s and 70s. |
| His trial at Preston Crown Court, which had run into its fourth week, heard from five women who claimed he sexually assaulted them when they were 16 or under, either at Granada Studios in Manchester, in his car or at properties he owned. | His trial at Preston Crown Court, which had run into its fourth week, heard from five women who claimed he sexually assaulted them when they were 16 or under, either at Granada Studios in Manchester, in his car or at properties he owned. |
| Roache denied all the offences, saying he did not even know any of his accusers and had never had a sexual interest in under-age girls. | Roache denied all the offences, saying he did not even know any of his accusers and had never had a sexual interest in under-age girls. |
| The actor said he was "astounded" and "horrified" at his arrest on suspicion of rape at his home in Wilmslow, Cheshire, on 1 May last year.ITV announced he would not appear in Coronation Street until legal proceedings were concluded. | |
| Louise Blackwell QC, defending, said the case against her client was "nonsense", with the trial haunted by the "spectre" of Jimmy Savile. | Louise Blackwell QC, defending, said the case against her client was "nonsense", with the trial haunted by the "spectre" of Jimmy Savile. |
| Criticism of police and prosecutors over Savile's impunity despite years of suspicions of sex abuse meant accusations against other celebrities had to end in a trial, it was suggested. | Criticism of police and prosecutors over Savile's impunity despite years of suspicions of sex abuse meant accusations against other celebrities had to end in a trial, it was suggested. |
| "In the post Jimmy Savile era, once someone makes an allegation, it's got to go to court, no sense will prevail, it has to go to court," Ms Blackwell said. | "In the post Jimmy Savile era, once someone makes an allegation, it's got to go to court, no sense will prevail, it has to go to court," Ms Blackwell said. |
| Glowing testimonies about Roache's "caring" and "lovely" nature were given in evidence by three of his Coronation Street co-stars including Anne Kirkbride, who plays his on-screen wife Deirdre. | Glowing testimonies about Roache's "caring" and "lovely" nature were given in evidence by three of his Coronation Street co-stars including Anne Kirkbride, who plays his on-screen wife Deirdre. |
| Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |
| In pictures: William Roache and the fight to prove his innocence |