Emmerdale star returns to UK to await rape trial

Emmerdale actor Ben Freeman has been allowed to return to the UK while he awaits a rape trial.

The 26-year-old, who plays Scott Windsor in the soap, is charged with raping a 16-year-old during a holiday in Barbados.

Freeman has insisted he is innocent and will plead not guilty. He is due back in court on March 15 to enter a plea.

Yesterday, Chief Magistrate Clyde Nicholls approved an application by Freeman's attorney for the return of his travel documents, but ordered the actor to pay a higher bail of just over £25,000 - up from the original £5,000.

Speaking for the first time since the news broke of his arrest, as he left his solicitor's office Freeman said: "I'm not saying anything. It's all going to come out in court."

But his lawyer Desmond Sands added: "That is the position. He's going to be pleading not guilty because he is innocent."

Staff at the beachfront hotel are said to be puzzled by the charge, the Daily Star reported.

The incident is said to have taken place in front of other tourists, who are not thought to have raised the alarm.

Other reports said police interviewed the popular soap star after the British girl's parents complained on Wednesday, hours after the alleged attack at the Almond Beach Resort.

The girl has returned to Britain. But hotel staff say she was seen sunbathing three days after the incident on Saturday.

A staff member said: 'You would have thought that after something as traumatising as that she would have wanted to get as far away from here as possible.'

A Foreign Office official said: "We are aware of the case and consular assistance is being provided to both British nationals involved."