Solihull actor Ben Fellows cleared at the Old Bailey - The Solihull Observer

Solihull actor Ben Fellows cleared at the Old Bailey

Solihull Editorial 7th Aug, 2015 Updated: 21st Oct, 2016   0

SOLIHULL actor Ben Fellows has been cleared of perverting the course of justice.

The 40-year-old, from Olton, had claimed he was sexually assaulted by former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke.

During a trial at the Old Bailey, the court heard that in 2012 Mr Fellows told national news reporters Mr Clarke had assaulted him in the office of a political lobbyist during a cash-for-questions sting by ITV’s The Cook Report.

In the trial Mr Clarke – the MP for Rushcliffe – described the claims as “preposterous”.




But the jury took eight hours to find Mr Fellows, of Redstone Farm Road, not guilty of the charge.

Speaking outside, he thanked his friends, family and supporters who he had kept him going throughout the ordeal of the last two years.


He added that the Old Bailey trial, in which he had been described as a ‘persuasive fantasist’ had been an intense and terrifying experience and that he had been completely out of his depth.

He added: “As far as I’m concerned the next few weeks and months are about rebuilding my life and moving on.

“I shall make no further comment now or in the future about Mr Clarke and the events of 1994.”

Mr Clarke insisted he had never in his life “had the compulsion” to grope another man as he dismissed the claim as “preposterous”, “off the Richter scale” and “like Martians landing”.

Speaking after the trial, a representative for Mr Clarke said: “The police always made it clear they regarded Mr Clarke as a victim and a witness in this case.

“Since receiving the verdict, they have assured Mr Clarke they regard this matter as closed, and Mr Clarke takes the same view.”

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