TV Story

05 December 2008 07:59 BST

Rape charge actor granted bail

Ben Freeman, the actor accused of raping a 16-year-old British girl while on holiday in Barbados, has been granted bail.

The 26-year-old, who plays Scott Windsor in the ITV soap Emmerdale, appeared in Bridgetown court after being arrested and charged with rape.

He was told that he could return to the UK on a £25,000 bond but must appear before the court again on March 15th.

The allegations, made to police on November 29th, claim that the sexual assault took place at the Almond Beach Village resort.

The Foreign Office said that the rape was first reported to Barbadian police last Wednesday and that both individuals involved had been receiving consular assistance.

Freeman, who is from West Yorkshire, has played Scott Windsor in Emmerdale since 1998 following a stint on children's show Grange Hill.

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