Roache TV 'previous lives' interview shown to jury

Jurors in the trial of William Roache have been shown a TV interview which angered one of his alleged victims.

In the footage, the Coronation Street actor appeared to suggest that victims of sex abuse were paying the price for their actions 'in previous lives.'

Mr Roache, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, denies two rape charges and five indecent assaults, alleged to have taken place between 1965 and 1971.

The charges relate to five women aged 16 and under between those dates.

Preston Crown Court previously heard the interview prompted one of the alleged victims to contact police with her allegation that Mr Roache made her perform a sex act on him in his gold Rolls-Royce.

'Sexually mature'

In the interview with New Zealand's One News programme, Mr Roache said: "Paedophilia is absolutely horrendous. Paedophiles should be sought out, rooted out and dealt with."

He spoke of a "fringe" of groupies, adding: "These girls who come, they are sexually active, sexually mature."

He said people should not "go around condemning, unforgiving. We should always be totally forgiving about everything."

Mr Roache added: "If you know that you are pure love and therefore live that pure love, these things won't happen to you."

The interviewer said: "To some people, that sounds perhaps like you are saying victims bring it upon themselves. Is that what you are saying?"

The actor replied: "No, not quite but yes, I am. In that we... everything that happens to us has been a result of what we have been in previous lives, or whatever."

The trial was adjourned until 14:00 GMT on Monday.