Ex-'Emmerdale' star denies sex charge

Former Emmerdale actor Lewis Linford today pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a girl in a Hull nightclub.

The 22-year-old - who played Emmerdale's gamekeeper Lee Naylor before being written out in June - appeared before a jury at Hull Crown Court under his real name of Lewis Smales.

The alleged incident involving the 20-year-old semi-professional model, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is claimed to have taken place while Linford was queuing at a cash machine outside club Pozition on December 22, 2007.

According to the Hull Daily Mail, the possible victim told the jury that Smales touched her bottom and asked her for sex.

She said: "He came up from behind me. 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."

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

The female went on to explain that when Smales grabbed her hand, she punched him and on seeing the defendant persisting with another woman, hit him again.

The incident allegedly took place at around midnight when she arrived at the nightclub, having consumed three vodkas, lime and lemonade at separate pubs across the city.

Counsel for the defence Robert Smith QC told her: "I want to make it clear to you, I'm suggesting that you've made these allegations up."

The trial continues.