[Scarlett.]

EX-EMMERDALE star Ben Freeman gave his first interview on ITV1's This Morning today after being cleared of rape last week.

The 28-year-old actor was overjoyed when he walked free from court in Barbados after being found not guilty of raping a teenager.

Fern and Phil

But he told Fern and Phil that the legal battle has left him broke - and while his family stood by him throughout, he is struggling to put his life back together after the emotional upheaval of the trial.

He explained: "My mission for the last two years has been to clear my name... now that's over, I would obviously like to get back to work, whatever work that is.

“I’ve put (my family) through an incredible amount and I can never really repay them for how they have been there for me."

“It was a strange feeling when they said they’d reached a verdict ... it certainly didn’t sink in straight away. It had been two long years that me and my family went through. It wasn’t some joyous moment. I just looked straight ahead, listened to what the judge had to say and walked out. I am finally glad it is all over."

Silly

The actor admitted he had made "bad choices", but while he had been "silly", he never acted illegally.

“I am not particularly angry with the girl and the family. I do have to say I made a lot of bad choices that put myself in that position where someone could say that about me. The important thing is I didn’t do anything illegal but it was silly. It was.

“Whatever made her make that decision I think it was tough to then undo, I think things happened so quickly and I think it was a snowball effect and I think someone who is young possibly quite naive was unable to get out of that decision she put herself in.”

Ben also said he would consider returning to Emmerdale if the soap's bosses approached him: “I don’t know if Emmerdale would consider taking me back but I would think about it if they wanted to talk.”

Ben Freeman was accused of the sexual assault nearly two years ago while holidaying at a posh resort on the island. He faced life imprisonment if convicted. His alleged victim, now 17, reportedly showed "no emotion" when the verdict was announced.


The Sun