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Coronation Street actor William Roache who plays Ken Barlow, arrives with his son James at Preston Crown Court this morning. Dave Thompson/PA Wire
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Corrie actor William Roache appears in court for rape trial

Roache has been charged with two counts of rape involving a 15-year-old girl and another five counts of indecent assault on four girls.

CORONATION STREET ACTOR William Roache is appearing in court this morning for the trial on charges relating to sexual offences involving girls aged 16 and under.

The 81-year-old actor has been charged with two counts of rape involving a 15-year-old girl and another five counts of indecent assault between 1962 and 1965 involving four girls who were aged between 12 and 16 at the time. He has pleaded not guilty to all of these alleged offences.

Roache was initially charged under a police investigation into historic sex abuse sparked by the revelations against late BBC presenter Jimmy Savile, now considered one of Britain’s most prolific sex offenders.

imageSecurity clear a path for Coronation Street actor William Roache (centre)who plays Ken Barlow, as he arrives at Preston Crown Court (Image: Dave Thompson/PA).

In May last year, the actor, who plays Ken Barlow in British soap Coronation Street, was charged with two counts of raping a 15-year-old girl between April and July 1967, with the actor saying he was “deeply horrified” by the allegations.

In June he was then charged with the additional five counts on four girls, not related to the first incidents. These alleged assaults are said to have been committed in the Manchester area.

Roache arrived at Preston Crown Court this morning with his son James. His trial at the court is scheduled for four weeks.

- Additional reporting from AFP.

Read: Coronation St actor William Roache to face another five charges>

Read: Ken Barlow actor is ‘deeply horrified’ by rape charges against him