Coronation Street actor Bill Roache has been charged with a further five sexual offences against girls – one possibly as young as 11.
The 81-year-old has already been charged with two historic sex offences concerning the rape of a 15-year-old girl in the 1960s.
Today, he was charged with five indecent assaults against four girls aged between 11 or 12 and 16.
In a CPS statement, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the north west Nazir Afzal, said: “We have carefully considered all the evidence gathered by Lancashire Police in relation to recent allegations from four complainants that William Roache indecently assaulted them in the 1960s.
“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 with five offences of indecent assault relating to four girls who were aged between 11 or 12 and 16 at the time that the alleged offences happened.
“We have been reviewing evidence and providing early investigative advice to Lancashire Police regarding these allegations, which were made to police after Mr Roache was charged with two offences of rape on 1 May 2013.”
The charges put to Roache are two indecent assaults in relation to a 14-year-old girl and one to a 16-year-old girl in 1965.
One indecent assault in relation to a girl aged 13 or 14 in 1968 and one indecent assault in relation to a girl aged 11 or 12 in the same year.
Roache has made a preliminary appearance at Preston Magistrates’ Court on the two existing rape charges, and will appear before the court tomorrow concerning the four fresh charges.
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