EastEnders 'helped victim to tell of rape'

A jury watched an episode of EastEnders in court today after a woman claimed it prompted her to reveal she had been raped.

The episode of the BBC soap featured Kat Slater, played by Jessie Wallace, revealing that her "sister" was actually her daughter as a result of rape by her uncle.

The alleged victim had been waiting to give evidence at an earlier trial when she watched the episode in October last year.

She then felt able to tell police she had been raped as a virgin of 13. The woman had already accused Brian Wickenden, 34, of indecently assaulting her, for which he was standing trial. After her fresh complaint to police that abuse over a number of years had escalated into rape, the case was halted.

A new charge of rape was added and a second trial started last week. Wickenden, of Faversham, denies rape, indecent assault, indecency with a child and indecent assault on a male.

The allegations involve the woman, now 22 - who claims Wickenden scared her into silence - another girl and two boys.

Maidstone Crown Court was told Wickenden started abusing victims as a teenager. He would allegedly reward them with sexual favours and then lose interest when they reached puberty.

The jury has retired to consider its verdict.