Andrew Lancel accused of using fame to seduce alleged child sex victim

Embattled British actor Andrew Lancel used his fame to “gain the trust” of his alleged child sex victim and showered the boy with compliments, a court has heard. The former Coronation Street star, real name Andrew Watkinson, appeared in Liverpool Crown Court in England on Monday (03Jun13) to face charges he indecently assaulted a kid under the age of 15 between 1993 and 1994.
Prosecutor Kim Whittlestone claimed the actor’s relationship with the unnamed child began when the star, then 23, visited a local theatre group.
She told jurors the boy was “starstruck” by Lancel, who would regularly praise the talent of the reported victim and tell him he “could go places”, and he began taking the child for coffee before inviting the kid to his home, where the abuse is alleged to have taken place.
She said, “The prosecution case is that the defendant used his status as an actor at that time to flatter and gain the trust of the victim.
“He knew he was under the age of consent, but despite that would progress their relationship and made it sexual – something that he knew as an adult of 23 years of age was wrong.”
Lancel has denied the accusations and maintains he only acted as a “sort of mentor” to the boy.
The trial continues.