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Actor did not want paedophile tag Actor did not want paedophile tag
(about 2 hours later)
Actor Chris Langham pleaded not guilty to the child pornography charges he is accused of because he did not want to be called a paedophile, a court heard.Actor Chris Langham pleaded not guilty to the child pornography charges he is accused of because he did not want to be called a paedophile, a court heard.
The 58-year-old admitted looking at the images but said he did so to resolve a long-standing psychological problem, Maidstone Crown Court heard.The 58-year-old admitted looking at the images but said he did so to resolve a long-standing psychological problem, Maidstone Crown Court heard.
Mr Langham, of Golford, near Cranbrook, Kent, denies 15 counts of making an indecent image of a child in 2005.Mr Langham, of Golford, near Cranbrook, Kent, denies 15 counts of making an indecent image of a child in 2005.
He also denies six indecent assault charges and two of serious sex assault.He also denies six indecent assault charges and two of serious sex assault.
Prosecutor Richard Barraclough said: "You pleaded not guilty because you were labelled a paedophile?"Prosecutor Richard Barraclough said: "You pleaded not guilty because you were labelled a paedophile?"
I was aware of the fact it was illegal and did it anyway Chris LanghamI was aware of the fact it was illegal and did it anyway Chris Langham
"Yes, that's correct," Mr Langham replied."Yes, that's correct," Mr Langham replied.
"But you are guilty of the images counts?" Mr Barraclough asked."But you are guilty of the images counts?" Mr Barraclough asked.
The actor replied: "Yes, that's correct."The actor replied: "Yes, that's correct."
"So your plea of not guilty is simply some sort of statement that you are not a paedophile?" Mr Barraclough inquired."So your plea of not guilty is simply some sort of statement that you are not a paedophile?" Mr Barraclough inquired.
Mr Langham said: "Yes, that's absolutely correct."Mr Langham said: "Yes, that's absolutely correct."
The actor was accused of indulging in "pseudo psychobabble" to explain his actions.The actor was accused of indulging in "pseudo psychobabble" to explain his actions.
'Work in progress'
Mr Langham said: "I was trying to break down something inside me that I could use for my own development."Mr Langham said: "I was trying to break down something inside me that I could use for my own development."
He admitted he never told his wife he viewed indecent images of children, and said: "I suppose it's very personal to me and something I didn't feel comfortable about, but I was also aware of the fact it was illegal.He admitted he never told his wife he viewed indecent images of children, and said: "I suppose it's very personal to me and something I didn't feel comfortable about, but I was also aware of the fact it was illegal.
"I was aware of the fact it was illegal and did it anyway.""I was aware of the fact it was illegal and did it anyway."
Mr Langham told the court he did not think looking at material "posted openly" was a criminal act.Mr Langham told the court he did not think looking at material "posted openly" was a criminal act.
When Mr Barraclough asked if he was a sick man, the actor replied: "I would describe myself as a human being, a work in progress."When Mr Barraclough asked if he was a sick man, the actor replied: "I would describe myself as a human being, a work in progress."
The prosecutor accused Mr Langham of being a "perverted individual".The prosecutor accused Mr Langham of being a "perverted individual".
I'm fascinated by what people do and I'm fascinated by people tying each other up and doing weird sexual things to each other Chris Langham
Mr Langham told the jury victims of abuse were his "brothers and sisters" and he felt no shame in looking at child pornography.
When asked why he had saved images on to his computer, he replied: "I thought if I could become angry enough I might be able to break this problem I have in accessing this stuff myself."
Mr Barraclough said this explanation was nonsense.
He added: "There's a much more deep seated reason why you were looking at this stuff, nothing to do with writing help."
The actor denied that he had based the paedophile character of Pedro for the television series Help on himself.
He said: "There's a community of people and the only thing they share is that something happened in their childhood which they don't talk about."
'Not my interest'
When asked by judge Philip Statman whether he had sought therapy to help him deal with being abused as a child and the "problem of the eight-year-old boy who is locked up", Mr Langham said he had spoken to friends about 20 years ago.
When it was put to him that 99.9% of the images he viewed contained pre-teen girls, Mr Langham said: "Little girls are not my prominent interest sexually. Little girls are not my interest at all."
He admitted he had subscribed to an American website that featured women being raped but said violence against women did not arouse him.
"I'm fascinated by what people do and I'm fascinated by people tying each other up and doing weird sexual things to each other; I think it's interesting."
Mr Barraclough asked Mr Langham if he was "letting the out the eight-year-old boy" when he became upset after denying he abused a 25-year-old woman when she was underage.
"Please don't mock me. I'm frightened," the actor replied.
On Thursday jurors at the court were directed to clear Mr Langham on four counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16 between 1996 and 1998.On Thursday jurors at the court were directed to clear Mr Langham on four counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16 between 1996 and 1998.
The trial continues.The trial continues.