A former Hollyoaks actor has appeared in court charged with rape and child cruelty offences.
Rizwan Khan, who appeared in a number of episodes in the Channel 4 soap, has been charged with five counts of rape, one section two offence of the Sexual Offences Act, and one count of causing unnecessary suffering/injury to a child, Gazette Live has reported. The 37-year-old appeared in court and spoke only to confirm his name, age and address during the short hearing at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
John Garside, prosecuting, outlined that six of the charges were indictable only and must be heard at a higher court. Khan, who wore a black jumper and white shirt, did not enter a plea to the charges during the hearing.
According to IMDb, Khan, who was represented by Neil Douglas during Wednesday's hearing, pursued his dream of becoming an actor age 34.
He is understood to have appeared in a number of episodes of Hollyoaks as well as an extra in ITV's Vera and film Everybody's Talking About Jamie.
Khan, of Union Street, central Middlesbrough, will next appear at Teesside Crown Court on October 26.
He was granted unconditional bail.
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