Oritse Williams: Rape-accused former JLS star bailed after Walsall court appearance
Former JLS star Oritse Williams has been granted unconditional bail after appearing at Walsall Magistrates Court charged with rape this morning.
The 31-year-old singer, who enjoyed chart success after shooting to fame on The X Factor in 2008, was arrested in December 2016 following allegations he raped a fan in a hotel room in Wolverhampton after a gig at Gorgeous nightclub.
Williams, of Upper Shirley Road in Croydon, South London, appeared at court earlier today and only spoke to identify himself. He did not enter a plea.
WATCH: Oritse Williams outside court in Walsall
Jamien Nagadhana, 31, from Hounslow, London, has been charged in connection with the same incident and was also in court in Walsall this morning.
He refused to give his address to the court and also did not admit or deny the offence.
Williams and Nagadhana will next appear at Wolverhampton Crown on November 8.
A statement released at the time of his arrest by 10 Worlds Music UK, which looked after Williams, said the singer denied the accusations.
It read: "All we wish to say at this time is that Oritse denies the allegations against him.
"The matter is in the hands of the police and it would be totally wrong for us to comment any further."
After the allegations came to light, Williams said he would be stepping back from charity work - saying "press speculation is likely to be unhelpful to the charities I work with."
