| Ben Freeman | |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 April 1980 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Spouse | Jennifer Biddall (2010–present) |
Benedict "Ben" Freeman (born 8 April 1980) is an English television actor, best known for his part in ITV's Emmerdale as Scott Windsor.
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As of May 2009 Ben has recently been linked to former Hollyoaks actress Jennifer Biddall, who played Jessica Harris in the soap.
It was reported on Sunday 6 December 2009 that Ben and Jennifer Biddall had got engaged after enjoying a whirlwind 8 month romance.
On 10 September 2010 Ben married Jennifer Biddall at The Manor House Hotel, Castle Combe. Guests at the wedding included Kelvin Fletcher (Emmerdale), Kieron Norfield and cast members from Dreamboats and Petticoats.
The eldest of five siblings (three younger sisters and a younger brother), living in Slough, Berkshire, Freeman went to St. Bernard's Convent School (now St. Bernard's Catholic Grammar School). While at school Freeman took a part-time acting course over a school half-term holiday and was spotted by an agent, who signed him up. Freeman also trained at Redroofs Theatre School in Maidenhead. Freeman's first role was playing Chris Longworth in children's school soap Grange Hill.
After leaving Grange Hill, when Emmerdale decided to recast the character of Scott Windsor from incumbent Toby Cockerell in 1998, Freeman won the role of the womanising car mechanic Scott.
On 3 December 2006, the British Foreign Office confirmed that Freeman had been charged with raping a British 16 year old girl, while on holiday on the Caribbean island of Barbados.[1] Freeman, his stepfather and other members of his family had been staying at the Almond Beach Village resort, where the girl was also staying.[2]
The alleged incident took place on the night of Wednesday 29 November, at a pool-side sun lounger at the resort that both parties were staying at. Freeman left the Almond Beach Village the next day, while the 16-year-old girl stayed on until she and her family returned to the UK on Sunday 3 December.
Freeman was initially ordered to stay on the island until the case was over, had his passport confiscated and was released to his lawyer on payment of $20,000 Barbadian dollars (£5,000) bail. In a subsequent hearing on 6 December, his passport was returned by the judge and he was free to leave the country, subject to agreeing to return for the formal hearing on 15 March 2007 and payment of bail at $100,000 Barbados dollars (£26,000).[3]
In mid-March Freeman appeared in court to deny raping a schoolgirl in Barbados. He admits they had sex but says she consented.[4]
In December 2007, an ITV spokesperson confirmed that Freeman would not be renewing his contract for practical reasons, as it expired at the end of 2007. The ITV spokesperson said: “Due to the uncertainty of the process of law and the lead times in writing a character in and out of a soap we cannot be sure of Ben’s availability for work, so we cannot renew his contract at this stage." According to the website, Freeman would like to talk to ITV about a contract renewal, after this situation is over.[5]
Freeman was found not guilty of rape on 17 October 2008. The jury took 90 minutes to reach a unanimous not guilty verdict. Freeman bowed his head slightly as the verdict was returned, but in the public gallery, his friends and family shouted "yes" while others cried. His sister Laura, girlfriend Sophie Ladds, and godmother Susie Duguid followed him out of the court in tears. The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also started crying once Mr Freeman left the court.
Freeman's QC Anesta Weekes said the girl "panicked" when she realised "it was all going to come out in the photographs" and "made that dreadful choice to lie to please her parents who had beaten her up".[6]
The actor said:
"I'm grateful to be vindicated by the jury's verdict and am looking forward to spending time with my family and close friends who have been enormously supportive to me over the past two years."[7]