Ex-JLS star Oritse Williams arrives at court for rape trial

Former JLS star Oritse Williams has arrived at court today to stand trial over allegations he raped a fan after a concert.

The 32-year-old, who enjoyed chart success after shooting to fame on The X Factor in 2008, was arrested in December 2016 following allegations he had attacked a woman at the four-star Ramada Park Hall hotel. 

He is alleged to have raped the 20-year-old waitress after promoting his new solo album at the Gorgeous Nightclub. 

The singer pleaded not guilty to rape during a court hearing in November last year and is at Wolverhampton Crown Court for the start of the trial today. 

Williams was in Wolverhampton promoting his solo album Waterline. 

The alleged victim told police that Williams invited her and a friend back to a hotel where they started drinking along with another man.

After socialising in the room, the girls claim they left to get a taxi home, but realised they had left a handbag containing a purse so one of them went to retrieve it.

It was then when the alleged rape took place. 

The 32-year-old, pictured outside court today has denied the allegations

The singer, far right, with his JLS bandmates, from left, Jonathan Gill, Aston Merrygold and Marvin Humes

The 32-year-old, from Croydon, south London, will stand trial with co-defendant Jamien Nagadhana.

Nagadhana, also 32, from Hounslow, west London, denies a charge of assault by penetration in connection with the same incident.

After his arrest, he quit his ambassadorial work for the MS Society and music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins, saying he was concerned speculation would affect the charities he works with.

After the allegations came to light, Williams announced he would be stepping back from charity work, adding: ‘Press speculation is likely to be unhelpful to the charities I work with.’