William Roache, better known as “Coronation Street’s” Ken Barlow is arrested over allegation of the rape of an under-age girl
Recently, we reported on remarks given by Coronation Street actor William Roache MBE to a New Zealand television programme about people who have committed child sex crimes. Roache bizarrely said that the public should be “totally forgiving” of such individuals. This morning, he was arrested over an allegation that he raped an under-age girl in Lancashire between April and July 1967.
Mr Roache is the grandson of a Freemason who was interested in hypnotism, theosophy and esotericism. He is himself a vegetarian and spiritualist and was photographed participating in Druid rituals in the 1970s.
The actor gained the nickname “Cock Roache” after openly admitted to having slept with over 1,000 women and also happens to sit on the board of Oystons Estate Agency with the television presenter Stuart Hall OBE. Mr Hall is currently awaiting trial on three counts of indecent assault between 1967 and 1986 whilst the company’s founder, Owen Oyston, was jailed for six years in 1996 after having been convicted of rape.
A spokesman for Lancashire Police commented:
“We take all allegations of sexual abuse extremely seriously and would encourage people with any information about sexual abuse, or anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse, to come forward and report their concerns confident in the knowledge they will be investigated appropriately and with sensitivity”.
Currently two other Coronation Street actors, Michael Le Vell, who plays Kevin Webster, and Andrew Lancel, who played Frank Foster, are awaiting trial on child sex charges. Le Vell, also known as Michael Turner, will go on trial at Manchester crown court on 2nd September 2013 whilst Lancel, also known as Andrew Watkinson, will see his trial commence at Liverpool crown court on 3rd June 2013.
They do say the truth is often stranger than fiction and it does indeed seem like the lives of these Coronation Street actors are more dramatic off screen than they are on it.
Its interesting how you always seem to turn our justice system upside down regarding these sleazy sex abuse cases. You always assume guilt, rather then the other way around. the fact of the matter that these cases, the further in the past they are, become more and more ridiculous. UK doesn’t have any statue of limitations on criminal cases, ( unlike many other countries, USA being the best example). Now statues of limitations are there for a reason. Since the the longer we wait to charge somebody or even investigate, the harder it is to gather evidence and evidence goes both ways, it can proof a claim and disproof it. How can I man defend himself, reasonably, from something that was supposed to have happened half a century ago? Evidence that could have exonerated him will be lost. Physical evidence lost, witness statements less reliable , possible witnesses dead etc. In a civilized society we assume innocence before guilt is proven not the other way around. Surely the police could spend their resources on unsolved murders for example that have happened in the last decade. But of course investigating a murder committed by an mundane unknown criminal is less likely to land the investigators in prime time TV, than going after famous geriatrics from TV.
I think perhaps you ought to examine Cock Roache’s comments Mr Spy. He rather tellingly defended paedos in the past and now he has been charged. Do you know this man yourself? I did. I think you might do well to read more details about this case before making such comments. I’ll leave it at that.
Interesting. Notable also that he has been a fan in the past of using libel laws to silience the media. I suspect after that outcome, he won’t be doing that again.
Statement from William Roache, 2nd May 2013:
“I am astounded and deeply horrified by the extraordinary events of the last twenty-four hours.”
“I strenuously deny the allegations and will now focus my full attention on fighting to preserve my innocence in the challenging times ahead.”
“I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all those people who have offered me their support and good wishes at this difficult time.”
William Roache’s admission in the national newspapers of sleeping with a 1000 women made me very suspicious. It is a very old ploy, diverting attention away from a specific course or subject.
Even Simon Cowell has admitted to sleeping with a 1000 women. God will only know his motive for such a revelation. Nick Clegg admitted to sleeping with more than 25 women, he was just trying to be Liberal.
Cock Roache is a dirty old bugger.
Simon Cowell claims to have bedded more than 2000 women. He has definitely got the edge on Cock Roache. Max has gone over the top on this one, he has ripped the chicken’s asshole out. It is beyond satire.
They’re all Freemasons.