The daughter of comedians Lenny Henry and Dawn French has appeared in court over allegations she harassed an ex and falsely accused him of sexual abuse.
Billie Roma Henry, 28, is alleged to have excessively bombarded former boyfriend Sam King with texts and emails for attention, including some pretending to be another person.
According to a Mirror report, she is also accused of claiming King subjected her to physical violence and sexual abuse during their relationship.
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The alleged offence is reported to have taken place from August 2018 to February 2019 in Dobwalls, a village in southeast Cornwall.
She reportedly arrived at Bodmin Magistrates Court today (06.12.19) with Mark Bignall, mum Dawn’s husband, who sat in the court’s public gallery.
In the hearing, Henry denied a single charge of repeatedly or continuously engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour.
The charge against her states that the alleged behaviour had a serious effect on King – and that Henry either knew or should have known such behaviour would impact her ex in that way.
Prosecutor Paul Gallagher said, as reported by the Mirror: “It is a complex case that involves a large number of downloads. There is unusual complexity and another reason why it should be heard at the Crown Court.”
Having pleaded not guilty to the single charge, Henry will go on trial at Truro Crown Court on December 13. She was released on conditional bail.
Lenny and Dawn married in 1984 and adopted Billie some time after, before separating in 2009 and completing their divorce a year later.
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In 2017, Dawn spoke about her “wars” with Billie and her hopes the two could repair their relationship.
Discussing her turbulent relationship with her own mother at a screening of Sky One drama Delicious, Dawn said: “You start the warring early on and I remember being utterly allergic to my mum for a long time, and then realising that she was my dearest… and that she was going to always have my back.
“I kind of had to travel through that to the other side of it.”
The Vicar of Dibley star continued, as reported by Metro: “I am always hoping that might be the case with my own daughter and one day we might get to the other side. Time will tell.”
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