Ben Freeman accused of rape

[madamesinclair]

EMMERDALE star Ben Freeman has left court in Barbados after facing a charge of raping a 16-year-old British girl.

Freeman, 26, who plays mechanic Scott Windsor in the hit soap, was freed on 20,000-dollar bail to reappear before magistrates in Bridgetown.

His passport has been confiscated and he has been told not to leave the Caribbean island.

Magistrates took statements from witnesses during the brief hearing in Criminal Court 1.

It is thought the alleged victim, who has been allowed to go home, was not in court.

The attack is said to have taken place at the luxury Almond Beach Village complex in St Peter, where rooms start from £150 a night.

Freeman has been staying at the resort with his father and sister since arriving for a holiday last Saturday.

Before yesterday's court appearance, Station Sergeant David Welch said: "Benedict Paul Freeman was arrested and charged on the 29th of November for the offence of rape.

"The girl involved is 16 years old. She was a guest at the Almond Beach Village in St Peter. I can confirm that Benedict Paul Freeman was also staying at the hotel."

A Foreign Office official said: "We are aware of the case and consular assistance is being provided to both British nationals involved."

The allegation echoes a plot involving Ben's character Scott, who attempted to rape his ex-lover Zoe Tate.

Freeman has had a number of high-profile relationships. He dated beautiful co-star Amy Nuttall until she dumped him two years ago for cheating on her.

Amy discovered a girl's number in his mobile phone and rang her up.

The girl, 19-year-old bank executive Jenny Woodcock, from Chorley, Lancs, later confessed she romped with Freeman in his car after an evening with friends at Chorley's Park nightclub.

Freeman also romanced 34DD model Cassie Sumner. She was later exposed as a £3,000-a-night vice girl who went out with Chelsea footballer Michael Essien.

A year ago he was dumped by girlfriend Montana Manning, 17, of girl band Cookie, after he cheated on her with a 6ft blonde fan.

The Almond Beach Village Hotel is a family-orientated resort on the island's famous Gold Coast.

It is situated on an old sugar plantation and is spread over 32 acres of landscaped gardens with ten swimming pools.

Guests enjoy an all-inclusive package, including unlimited meals, drinks and room service.

They can also choose from a wide range of activities, such as water skiing, windsurfing, sailing, aqua cycling, kayaking, snorkeling, reef fishing and banana boats.

Freeman's agent Katie Threlfall said: "He never takes his mobile with him on holiday so I can't comment on this, but I am sure there has been a mistake."

Freeman, who is based in Leeds, got his acting break playing Chris Longworth in Grange Hill in 1997.

His shocked mum Caroline Walsh, who lives near Slough, Berks, said: "It's the first I've heard. I didn't even know he was on holiday."

An Emmerdale source confirmed: "Ben has been taking a well deserved holiday during a break from filming

[eithne]

Wow!!! I'm shocked. That could well be the end of Scott then if he is found guilty, and even if he is found innocent it will still hurt. His appearence is Soapstar Superstar will definitely be gone now anyway. I'd say they will have no option but to write Scott out.

[Mrs Demigod]

Shocking. But, if they do write Scott out will anybody be sad?

[madamesinclair]

Not in the slightest.

Even if this isn't true, I think he will be tarnished by it and it may result in him being given his P45.

[RitaLittlewood]

Again this is one of the problems when the men are named. If women have anonymity (even after being found to have been lying) so should men. People will say there's no smoke without fire even if it's proved not to be true whereas if he hadn't been named no one outside Emmerdale would be any the wiser.

Patsy

[Mrs Demigod]

Its obvious he has a bit of a reputation, but essentially, even if he is not guilty of rape, people are always going to be wary and it will be a whopper of a smear on his character. Even despite his past form, so looks to me like Yasmin has a point - he could well get the elbow.

[madamesinclair]

That's wishful thinking on my part

[valda]

let,s wait and find out the truth of it, like hear what Ben Freeman has to say ok as there is two side,s to the story no matter what the paper,s tell us. I think emmerdale and soaperstar superstar would be wise to do that as well don,t you? .

[madamesinclair]

Bit of trivia for you totally unrelated but Ben's agent is the estranged wife of Chris Villiers (Grayson) thought I recognised the name

[Mrs Demigod]

Unfortunately Val, Image is everything, and this is not going to be good for him. I hope he is innocent, and this is all a con. But even if he is, then its not going to do his reputation and favours.

[madamesinclair]

I said the same thing. If he is innocent, the word rape will tarnish his reputation and tarnish anything he is associated with. Emmerdale does not need this kind of bad press

[RitaLittlewood]

From the Mirror:

4 December 2006
EMMERDALE RAPE ACCUSED FACES LIFE
Freeman charged over girl, 16
By Jan Disley
EMMERDALE star Ben Freeman faces life behind bars if he is convicted of raping a girl of 16 while on holiday in Barbados.

He was arrested and charged with attacking the British girl, who was staying with her parents at the same resort.

Freeman, 26, who plays Scott Windsor in the ITV1 soap, was last night in hiding after he was released on £5,000 bail.

Police have seized his passport and ordered him not to leave Barbados.

Freeman, holidaying with his father, sister and other family members, is said to have been in a pool with the girl around 3am after both had been drinking.

Other guests were nearby and some are thought to have taken pictures of the pair. The girl's parents filed a complaint hours later and Freeman was arrested on Wednesday at the luxury Almond Beach Village complex.

Staff at the resort said yesterday they were puzzled by the charge because none of the other holidaymakers had raised the alarm over the alleged attack. Freeman and the girl, described as an attractive brunette who looks older than her years, had met earlier in the week.

One staff member, who asked not to be named, said the girl was seen sunbathing on Saturday - as Freeman was appearing before magistrates. He added: "It's strange. You'd have thought after something so traumatising she'd have wanted to get as far away from here a possible.

"But she looked like any other tourist, sitting in the sun and putting lotion on."

The girl and her parents have now returned home but may have to return to Barbados to give evidence.

Freeman, who has dated co-star Amy Nuttall and Montana Manning of girl band Cookie, is due to appear before magistrates again in the capital Bridgetown tomorrow. An Emmerdale spokesman said: "Ben has been in touch with the producer who is aware of the situation."

Freeman, from Leeds, was not expected back from the Caribbean for another week. It is thought filming schedules are not affected at this stage by his absence.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now if that's true about her sunbathing then it's looking like she's lying.

Patsy

[madamesinclair]

Check out The Sun Online

www.thesun.co.uk

[Lane Kent]

I'm keeping an open mind on this until I know more. According to teletext it said she was 16 which could mean even if it was conscented sex it might be illegal in that country with someone so young so that's what they have charged him with and she is having to go along with it for various reasons.

It could of course be totally true and he is a scumbag. Or it could all be total lies because she wouldn't be the first girl to seek noriaty for such a thing.

The thing I find a little suspicious is that she is from the UK too? How convenient. How did he happen to end up with her or has that already been revealed? I admit I only have read the one thing when the story broke on teletext. As she is from the UK, the chances are she knew exactly who he was.

There are so many whats, ifs, buts and why fors here. So I'm going to wait before passing judgement.

If it is true I hope he gets all what is coming to him. If it isn't then I hope the whole matter can be put behind him soon.

[RitaLittlewood]

www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006560100,00.html for the article and pics. Blimey according to te related article his last girlfriend was 17!

Patsy

[madamesinclair]

At www.xposurephotos.com if you search Ben Freeman, you will see him cavorting with various other women.

He is one of these young loser soap stars who thinks he can do what he wants. Reminds me of Dean Gaffney. I'm A Celeb awaits this loser.

[valda]

Ben freeman is young ,well paid and single and these photo,s are old one,s /old new,s nothing to do with this case ok. Dean Gaffney was tarred with the same brush by the paper,s I seem to recall Yasmin and they had no proof either did they? btw Dean Gaffeney got paid well as did all the Celebrity,s for being on I,m a Celeb so how does that make him a loser?.

[madamesinclair]

Dean admitted on several occasions that he cheated on the mother of his twin girls, while he was in the jungle. I'd call that proof.

And who said the pictures were anything to do with the rape charge? No one. It's well documented that he too cheated on his partner, Amy Nuttall while he was in a serious relationship. That makes him a loser.

If they start behaving like reckless idiots for the cameras, of course they're going to be tarred with the same brush.

[valda]

ok you have point about Dean Gafney and to be honest I stopped watching the jungle as it became one big yawn. (boreing). I ,m sorry Yasmin I thought because you,d put the link for those photo,s on here they were to do with the rape charges which btw he say,s in today,s paper that he is innocent of so I don,t think he is a loser , a stupid so and so, yes but not a loser. I,m not sure but Amy Nuttall wasn,t so innocent either she cheated on him too I think two partener,s cheating does not make it a very serious relationship does it? . but I,m not going to argue with you about either Ben Freeman or Dean Gafney being loser,s as I,ve got more in my life to worry about than them ok

[sootycat]

It appears he has been bailed until March, and is allowed to leave the country.
He has to return for the next hearing.

[madamesinclair]

Well I would hope he has been suspended until then. Chris Langham on bail for child ponorgraphy offences was suspended by the BBC pending the trial/further enquiries

[RitaLittlewood]

Have to see but I'm surprised they haven't said either he's suspended or they're giving him their full support.

Patsy

[valda]

must be some doubt as he got his passport back and allowed to leave until then, if the court wasn,t doubting his innocence he would not have been allowed to do that. maybe the power,s that be at emmerdale are waiting to see him and hear his side of the story before saying what they are going to do?.

[RitaLittlewood]

According to the ITV News he is expected to be in talks with the bosses on his return.

Patsy

[valda]

I missed the news thank you Patsy it does sound like thats what they are going to do remain neutral until they talk to him then decide .