Post date: Jan 16, 2014 1:25:48 AM
Jurors in separate sex offences cases against two of Britain's well-known veteran TV celebrities from the 1970's and 1980's hear details of allegations as trials continue.
PRESTON, ENGLAND, UK (JANUARY 15, 2014) (ITN) - Two separate trials against a soap star and former BBC DJ continued on Wednesday (January 15) as juries heard more details of the sex offences allegations against the two elderly men.
Appearing at Preston Crown Court in the northeast of England, William Roache, the world's longest running soap actor according to the Guinness World Records, denies seven historic sex offences against five girls.Roache, who plays Ken Barlow in the soap "Coronation Street" has denied two counts of raping a 15-year-old girl in 1967 and five counts of indecent assault involving four girls aged 11 to 16 in Manchester in the 1960s.
The jury was told by one alleged victim that he sent her a signed photo after assaulting her.
In London, Dave Lee Travis, one of Britain's best known radio presenters from the 1970's and 1980's, denies 13 counts of indecent assault and one of sexual assault as his trial entered day two on Wednesday.
He posed for photographs as he arrived at Southwalk Crown Court. The jury was told that the offences vary in gravity and that Travis was an "opportunist" who preyed on younger women.
The 68-year-old, was first arrested last November and is one of 14 ageing celebrities and show business figures to be accused of sex offences in an investigation sparked by revelations that the late BBC TV host Jimmy Savile was a prolific child sex abuser.
The case against 81-year-old Roache is not connected to the Savile investigations.
Roache's trial is expected to last four weeks and Travis's around six weeks.