Ex-Dales star takes stand in 'grope' trial

Former Emmerdale star Lewis Linford has today dismissed a woman's sexual assault allegations as "completely untrue".

The 22-year-old actor, who played gamekeeper Lee Naylor on the ITV1 soap, is currently standing trial at Hull Crown Court over the alleged incident under his real name Lewis Smales.

A 20-year-old semi-professional model, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has accused Smales of touching her bottom and begging her for sex outside Pozition club in Hull on December 22, 2007.

However, giving his version of events in front of a jury today, Smales claimed that the complainant had attacked him during an argument over a cash machine queue, The Mirror reports.

He told the court: "[The woman] came up to me and said, 'What the f**king hell do you think you're doing pushing in?' She was very angry. I just didn't want any trouble. She was being very aggressive."

Smales alleged that the woman had then punched him in the face before announcing to onlookers that he had "touched [her] up".

He continued: "I think she said I touched her up in order to justify hitting me."

Asked whether he had sexually assaulted the model, he replied: "It's completely untrue."

The trial continues.