Ilkeston-born Bill Roache charged with rape

Actor Bill Roache has been charged with two counts of rape of a 15-year-old girl in 1967.
File photo dated 11/2/2009 of Coronation Street actor Bill Roache who has been arrested on suspicion of an historic allegation of a sexual assault, sources said today. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Wednesday May 1, 2013. See PA story POLICE Roache. Photo credit should read: Dave Thompson/PA WireFile photo dated 11/2/2009 of Coronation Street actor Bill Roache who has been arrested on suspicion of an historic allegation of a sexual assault, sources said today. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Wednesday May 1, 2013. See PA story POLICE Roache. Photo credit should read: Dave Thompson/PA Wire
File photo dated 11/2/2009 of Coronation Street actor Bill Roache who has been arrested on suspicion of an historic allegation of a sexual assault, sources said today. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Wednesday May 1, 2013. See PA story POLICE Roache. Photo credit should read: Dave Thompson/PA Wire

The Coronation Street star, 81, who was born in Ilkeston, was questioned at his home in Cheshire yesterday (Wednesday) over an allegation he raped the girl in Lancashire between April and July 1967.

He is set to appear at Preston Magistrates Court on Tuesday May 14.

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Chief Crown Prosecutor Nazir Afzal said the evidence against Mr Roache had been ‘carefully considered’.

“We have been reviewing evidence and providing early investigative advice to Lancashire Police since March 1,” he said.

“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.”

ITV announced yesterday that he would be edited out of scenes in the soap.