Coro St star sentenced

Ex-Coronation Street star Bruno Langley wept as he avoided jail for grabbing women by the breasts, crotch and bottom during a drunken night out. 

The actor molested four women at a Manchester music venue last month, but was only charged with sexually assaulting two of them.

He wept in the dock today as he avoided jail after admitting both offences.

Langley was in the Band on the Wall club in the early hours of October 1 when he touched the two women. 

Instead of a jail term, the 34-year-old was ordered to complete a 12-month community order and submit to a curfew.

He was also ordered to pay £250 to each of his two victims. He must also sign the sex offenders' register for the next five years.

Langley, who is split from the ex-girlfriend with whom he has a son, apologised to his victims after the case and revealed he is getting help for a drinking problem. 

Passing sentence the judge told him: 'On that evening your conduct was quite disgraceful and degrading. Both of the victims would have been extremely shocked and upset as a result of your conduct.

'The fact that you were heavily intoxicated is not mitigation, it is a further aggravating feature.'

The judge said the convictions mean Langley will probably not work in the TV industry again.

The court heard Langley was 'clearly intoxicated' when the first woman, who was out with her husband, went upstairs to collect their coats from the cloakroom.

The prosecutor said: 'As she walked back towards the stairs Mr Langley grabbed her in the crotch area over her dress.'

Prosecutor Karen Saffman, quoting the victim's statement, said: 'He grabbed me. Properly grabbed me. It was a rough grab. Lots of pressure... even though it was through a dress and tights.'

The prosecutor added: 'She was clearly in shock. She was thinking about hitting him. She said, "Did you do that on purpose?" But he did not reply.'

A friend of Langley's then apologised, the court heard, saying: 'Oh my God, I'm really sorry'.

When the victim then went to go to the toilets she was then approached by another woman who had also been sexually assaulted by Langley.

Ms Saffman said the second woman told the first victim Langley had groped her 'boobs and her bum'.

Langley was also seen to go up to another woman, again a complete stranger, and 'grabbed her boobs and bum' and grabbed a fourth woman.

Ms Saffman said he had not been charged with offences against two of the woman but the two incidents were 'indicative of his behaviour' on the night. 

Langley, who has no previous convictions, looked down at the floor of the dock, as the case was outlined. 

His lawyer, Simon Hancock, told the court: 'Clearly, this is an isolated incident, something that happened on that evening. It is alcohol fuelled. 

'The court could see it in isolation, rather than a serial predatory groper. 

'The issue being, this is clearly a man who has alcohol issues, his behaviour clearly crosses a barrier where he touches females. 

'He did not target these females, and he did not fuel them with alcohol.'

Mr Hancock said Langley was now not employed and may have difficulty finding gainful employment because of the conviction. 

Distict Judge Hadfield told him: "The victims were shocked and upset by your conduct.

'You have lost your good name and employment and it may well be difficult to gain employment in the entertainment in future.' 

He made his Corrie debut as Todd Grimshaw in 2001. He has also had roles in Doctor Who, Dalziel And Pascoe and in several theatrical productions, including Calendar Girls and The Mousetrap.

In a statement released before he was charged, the actor said: 'Sadly, I will no longer be working on Coronation Street. Acting on the show has been the fulfilment of a personal dream.

'Playing the role of Todd Grimshaw since I was 17 years old has been a huge part of my life, and an absolute honour.

'I would like to thank all of my friends who work on the show for their love, friendship and support during this extremely difficult period.'

His contract is understood to have ended on October 26 following an internal inquiry into the assault allegation. 

This article was first published on dailymail.co.uk and is reproduced here with permission.