Former ‘Prisoner: Cell Block H’ star Maggie Kirkpatrick has been cleared of sexually abusing a teenage girl.
The Australian actress was convicted of gross indecency with a person under the age of 16 back in August, over claims she abused the 14-year-old at her home in 1984.
While she managed to escape jail due to the historic nature of the charges, she has now managed to have the ruling overturned, and clear her name.
![maggie kirkpatrick]()
Maggie Kirkpatrick
Maggie, who has always vehemently denied the accusations, won her appeal after Judge Geoffrey Chettle said that the charges could not be proved without reasonable doubt.
He added that her reason for inviting the girl to her house for dinner without another adult was in line with evidence that she had helped other young people in the past.
Speaking outside court, Maggie thanked her legal team, family and "the hundreds of fans and members of the acting fraternity who have stood by me for the last two years".
"It's been rather difficult, but I am very happy with the result," she added.
After she was convicted in August, a judge ruled that the 74-year-old was placed on a sex offenders' registry for eight years and that she had to undergo a sex offenders program, as well as serving 100 hours community service.
Maggie is best known for her role as governor Joan ‘The Freak’ Ferguson on ‘Prisoner: Cell Block H’ from 1982-86, and also enjoyed a stint on Aussie soap ‘Home And Away’ in 1991 as Marilyn Chambers’ aunt Jean.
The Australian actress was convicted of gross indecency with a person under the age of 16 back in August, over claims she abused the 14-year-old at her home in 1984.
While she managed to escape jail due to the historic nature of the charges, she has now managed to have the ruling overturned, and clear her name.
Maggie, who has always vehemently denied the accusations, won her appeal after Judge Geoffrey Chettle said that the charges could not be proved without reasonable doubt.
He added that her reason for inviting the girl to her house for dinner without another adult was in line with evidence that she had helped other young people in the past.
Speaking outside court, Maggie thanked her legal team, family and "the hundreds of fans and members of the acting fraternity who have stood by me for the last two years".
"It's been rather difficult, but I am very happy with the result," she added.
After she was convicted in August, a judge ruled that the 74-year-old was placed on a sex offenders' registry for eight years and that she had to undergo a sex offenders program, as well as serving 100 hours community service.
Maggie is best known for her role as governor Joan ‘The Freak’ Ferguson on ‘Prisoner: Cell Block H’ from 1982-86, and also enjoyed a stint on Aussie soap ‘Home And Away’ in 1991 as Marilyn Chambers’ aunt Jean.
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