Soap star denies assault

An Emmerdale actor has been accused of ‘groping’ a model…

12:36 21 August 2009

Emmerdale actor Lewis Linford has denied claims that he fondled a young model and asked her for sex in a nightclub.

The unidentified woman claimed the star groped her from behind after arguing with her friends.

She said: "He put his face into my neck. He said 'I want to have sex with you' and he put his hand on my bum and he tried putting his hand up my dress.

"I hadn't provoked anything to do that and I was surprised and I was frightened for my safety."

The woman, who was 19 at the time, said she had been chatting to the actor as they stood in a queue for the club's cashpoint whereby Linford (gamekeeper Lee Naylor in the ITV soap) and her male pal started to argue.

The woman told Hull Crown Court that she twice punched Linford before a second clubber poured a drink on him to deter his advances.

The incident allegedly happened at the city's Pozition nightclub just before Christmas 2007.

Linford, who appeared under his real name Lewis Smales, protested the claims of sexual assault in the case.

Linford said: "I did make contact with her but at no time whatsoever did I touch her in an inappropriate or sexual manner."

Robert Smith QC, defending, accused the woman lying. The trial continues.