Coronation Street actor Bill Roache 'sent signed photo to alleged abuse victim'

A court has heard allegations that actor Bill Roache sent a signed photograph of himself to a girl after indecently assaulting her the toilets of a TV studio.

An accompanying letter, allegedly from the Coronation Street star, instructed her to write back "when you start school again," the court heard.

Roache, 81, of Wilmslow in Cheshire, denies five historical counts of indecent assault and two historical counts of rape.

The alleged offences, which relate to girls who were aged 16 and under, are said to have occurred between 1965 and 1971.

The first witness to give evidence told the court that she had visited Granada Studios in the summer of 1965 to take part in a children's talent show.

During her visit, she claims Roache forced her to perform a sex act on him in the gents' toilets.

After the alleged assault, she said Roache had asked her for her address, which she gave him.

Weeks later she claims she received a letter and signed photograph from the actor. The letter read:

Another alleged victim, who is now a pensioner, branded Roache a "dirty old man".

The witness told the court she had been groped by Roache in the ladies' toilets at Granada Studios in November 1965.

She made her complaint to the police in May last year after seeing a television report about the rape allegations that the defendant faces.

"I thought to myself how brave she [the complainant] was to do it," she said.

"I thought that if I told my experience it might lend some credence towards her allegations. I felt if he could do that to me, he could [do] that to her."

Roache denies any sexual activity ever took place with any of the alleged victims.

The trial was adjourned until tomorrow morning.