Former Emmerdale actor Ben Freeman – cleared last week of raping a girl he met on holiday in Barbados – has spoken to This Morning exclusively about the two year ordeal which destroyed his life and relief at having now cleared his name.

On the moment he received the unanimous not – guilty verdict, 28-year-old Ben said:

“It was a strange feeling when they said they’d reached a verdict …it certainly didn’t sink in straight away, it was a bit of a numb feeling really. It had been two long years that me and my family went through. It wasn’t some joyous moment. I just looked straight ahead, listened to what the judge had to say and walked out. I am finally glad it is all over. “

The actor who arrived back in the UK from Barbados yesterday morning, admitted he had made some bad choices:

“I am not particularly angry with the girl and the family – I don’t feel need for retribution at all. I do have to say I made a lot of bad choices that put myself in that position where someone could say that about me. The important thing is I didn’t do anything illegal but it was silly. It was.”

On the allegations made by the girl Ben said:

“Whatever made her make that decision I think it was tough to then undo, I think things happened so quickly and I think it was a snowball effect and I think someone who is young possibly quite naive was unable to get out of that decision she put herself in.”

On moving on with his life Ben said:

“My mission for the last two years has been to clear my name, now that is over and I really can look forward, I would like to get back to work whatever work that is.”

“I don’t know if Emmerdale would consider taking me back but I would think about it if they wanted to talk.”

On the support he has had from his family:

“I’ve put them through an incredible amount and I can never really repay them for how they have been there for me.”