Australian actress Maggie Kirkpatrick faces historical child sex charges

Australian actress Maggie Kirkpatrick, who starred in the original series of crime drama Prisoner: Cell Block H, has been charged with historical child sex charges.

The 74-year-old will face a Melbourne court next month charged with the indecent assault of a 13-year-girl in the 1980s.

Australian Channel 7 News reports that Kirkpatrick says she will fight the charges.

Victoria police say a 74-year-old New South Wales woman has been charged with two counts of indecent assault and one of gross indecency with a person under 16 years.

The matter will be heard in the Melbourne magistrates court on 19 August. It is not thought that the alleged victim is connected to the media world.