Frank Foster

[alan45]

Let's remember he is innocent until proven guilty

[Perdita]

Ex-Coronation Street star Andrew Lancel's trial for child sex offences has been sent to the crown court.

The 42-year-old actor, real name Andrew Watkinson, was due to appear at South Sefton Magistrates' Court in Liverpool tomorrow (December 19).

A court official confirmed to the Press Association that the court had already dealt with the case and that it would be sent to Liverpool Crown Court on April 15, 2013.

Lancel, who has been granted bail, played Frank Foster in Coronation Street from 2005 until earlier this year.

Merseyside Police have confirmed that Lancel faces five counts of indecent assault on a child under the age of 16, being charged under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

He has maintained his innocence of all charges.

Lancel pulled out of a role in Christmas pantomime Sleeping Beauty while he fights the charges.

Read more: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/...#ixzz2FQPm57pR

[alan45]

Former Coronation Street actor Andrew Lancel was cleared today of four counts of indecently assaulting a 15-year-old boy but the judge said the verdict is 'not necessarily a rejection of the complainant's account of a sexual encounter.'
Mr Lancel, 42, who played Frank Foster in the soap, bit his lip and looked to the ceiling as his wife Louise burst into tears in the public gallery when the verdict was delivered.
The actor was cleared of four charges relating to the youngster dating back to 1994 when the teenager was attending a theatre group.

The couple posed for photographs outside Liverpool Crown Court after the not-guilty verdict was delivered
The jury at Liverpool Crown Court took just 29 minutes to clear the star of all counts.

More...

Judge Clement Goldstone QC said despite the verdict, the claimant was 'clearly scarred' by his experience.
He told the defendant's barrister Andrew Menary QC that the verdict does not necessarily mean the jury rejected the complainant's account.
He said: 'The defendant was acquitted on the evidence, and rightly so, but it is important that the complainant who is clearly scarred by an experience, should understand that the jury verdicts does not necessarily involve rejection of his account of a sexual encounter or encounters with the defendant.

Judge Clement Goldstone QC, sitting at Liverpool Crown Court, said the jury's verdict did not 'necessarily involve rejection' of the claimant's 'account of a sexual encounter'
'It is a statement that the prosecution have failed to make the jury sure that abuse of the type alleged occurred during the period covered by the indictment and in particular before the complainant's 16th birthday, now more than 18 years ago.'
The man broke down in tears as he told the jury of the abuse he claims he suffered - which the defendant denied took place.
Mr Lancel denied any 'intimate contact' with his accuser or wrongdoing involving a second man who gave evidence in the trial who accused him of performing a sex act on him when he was 15 after giving him a massage.
Mr Lancel, from Gateacre in Liverpool, was charged last November under his real name Andrew Watkinson.

Andrew Lancel played Frank Foster in the soap from 2010 to 2012
He walked out of court today hand in hand with his wife of eight years Louise.
The couple have one son.
He posed for a pack of photographers crowded around him but declined to comment on the case.
Mr Lancel's solicitor, Stuart Nolan, read a short statement on behalf of the actor outside court.
It read: 'Andrew would like to thank his family and friends and all parties for their support and prayers. He just wants to spend time with his family.'
The actor originally faced six counts of indecent assault but the judge earlier ordered the jury to find the defendant not guilty of two of the counts as the victim had agreed while he was being cross examined that he could not definitely say that some of the allegations happened before his 15th birthday.
Mr Lancel played Frank Foster in Coronation Street from 2010 to 2012.
He is also known for his roles in ITV drama Bad Girls, Cardiac Arrest and The Bill


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz2Vr9wVgcU
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[alan45]

Former Coronation Street actor Andrew Lancel was cleared today of four counts of indecently assaulting a 15-year-old boy but the judge said the verdict is 'not necessarily a rejection of the complainant's account of a sexual encounter.'
Mr Lancel, 42, who played Frank Foster in the soap, bit his lip and looked to the ceiling as his wife Louise burst into tears in the public gallery when the verdict was delivered.
The actor was cleared of four charges relating to the youngster dating back to 1994 when the teenager was attending a theatre group.

The couple posed for photographs outside Liverpool Crown Court after the not-guilty verdict was delivered
The jury at Liverpool Crown Court took just 29 minutes to clear the star of all counts.

More...

Judge Clement Goldstone QC said despite the verdict, the claimant was 'clearly scarred' by his experience.
He told the defendant's barrister Andrew Menary QC that the verdict does not necessarily mean the jury rejected the complainant's account.
He said: 'The defendant was acquitted on the evidence, and rightly so, but it is important that the complainant who is clearly scarred by an experience, should understand that the jury verdicts does not necessarily involve rejection of his account of a sexual encounter or encounters with the defendant.

Judge Clement Goldstone QC, sitting at Liverpool Crown Court, said the jury's verdict did not 'necessarily involve rejection' of the claimant's 'account of a sexual encounter'
'It is a statement that the prosecution have failed to make the jury sure that abuse of the type alleged occurred during the period covered by the indictment and in particular before the complainant's 16th birthday, now more than 18 years ago.'
The man broke down in tears as he told the jury of the abuse he claims he suffered - which the defendant denied took place.
Mr Lancel denied any 'intimate contact' with his accuser or wrongdoing involving a second man who gave evidence in the trial who accused him of performing a sex act on him when he was 15 after giving him a massage.
Mr Lancel, from Gateacre in Liverpool, was charged last November under his real name Andrew Watkinson.

Andrew Lancel played Frank Foster in the soap from 2010 to 2012
He walked out of court today hand in hand with his wife of eight years Louise.
The couple have one son.
He posed for a pack of photographers crowded around him but declined to comment on the case.
Mr Lancel's solicitor, Stuart Nolan, read a short statement on behalf of the actor outside court.
It read: 'Andrew would like to thank his family and friends and all parties for their support and prayers. He just wants to spend time with his family.'
The actor originally faced six counts of indecent assault but the judge earlier ordered the jury to find the defendant not guilty of two of the counts as the victim had agreed while he was being cross examined that he could not definitely say that some of the allegations happened before his 15th birthday.
Mr Lancel played Frank Foster in Coronation Street from 2010 to 2012.
He is also known for his roles in ITV drama Bad Girls, Cardiac Arrest and The Bill


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz2Vr9wVgcU
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