The 81-year-old Coronation Street actor Bill Roache made his first appearance at court charged with raping a 15-year-old girl this morning.
Appearing at Preston Magistrates’ Court, the Ken Barlow actor made a brief appearance.
He was bailed to appear for a preliminary hearing at Preston Crown Court on June 10.
Roache was arrested at his home in Wilmslow, Cheshire earlier this month and was later charged with two counts of rape.
The offences are said to have been committed in Haslingden between April and July 1967 and involved a 15-year-old girl.
Roache will not be appearing in Coronation Street while investigations continue.
A waxwork model of the actor has been removed from a Madame Tussauds in Blackpool after visitors were using it for ‘inappropriate’ photos.
Image courtesy of ITV video player, with thanks.
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