RAPE suspect Ben Freeman’s career was in ruins last night after he was forced to quit Emmerdale until he can clear his name. The 26-year-old actor, who plays Scott Windsor, will be written out of the ITV1 soap until bosses learn the outcome of his Barbados court case. He has also pulled out of celebrity talent contest Soapstar Superstar, due to start filming next month. The decision to put his career on hold came after Emmerdale chiefs summoned him to crisis talks yesterday. The actor, who is accused of raping a 16-year-old British holidaymaker on the Caribbean island a fortnight ago, looked stern as he arrived for the summit at Yorkshire TV’s studios in Leeds. He spent 90 minutes in the meeting with the soap’s producers and lawyers. And it was revealed last night that he had asked for a "leave of absence" from the show so he can concentrate on clearing his name. TV insiders said he would have been suspended unless he’d offered to stand down. He has also been warned he faces the sack if found guilty. A soap spokesman said: "Ben Freeman has asked for a leave of absence from Emmerdale to enable him to fight the legal proceedings. "We agree it would be best to rest his character from the show until the matter is resolved. At Ben’s request he will stand down from all other engagements, including Soapstar Superstar." The actor could face a life sentence after being charged with raping the teenager at the £150-a-night Almond Beach Village complex in St Peter. He had arrived at the 32-acre family resort with his dad and sister four days earlier. His alleged victim, who cannot be named, was staying at the same complex. She has since returned to her home in Cheshire. Freeman, who plays a womanising mechanic in the soap, appeared in court on the island last week. The case was adjourned until March when he will return to Barbados for a hearing at which a judge will decide if there is enough evidence to send him for trial. A trial could take up to nine months to be heard. Freeman was only allowed to return to Britain after making a £25,000 bail payment to the court. Last night a telly insider said: "His career is on the line. If he is found not guilty – and he maintains he’s innocent – then it may be possible he will return to the show. "But if he is convicted his contract at Emmerdale will be terminated."
Daily Snack
I hope this turns out to be false. I find it interesting if he was an actor in the USA he would continue to work as is, but in the UK he is forced to quit. I kind of agree more with the UK way of handaling things. I know I should be all innocent until proven guilty, but sometimes remaining in the public eye tips the scale towards being innocent, don’t you think?
