JLS star Oritse Williams pleads not guilty to raping fan in hotel after gig

Update April 14 2023: Oritse Williams and his manager were both cleared of all charges.

Former JLS pop star Oritse Williams denied a rape charge (PA)

A former member of the pop band JLS has denied raping a woman after a concert.

Oritse Williams, not guilty on Thursday at Wolverhampton Crown Court, where he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and nationality, and to deny the charge.

The 31-year-old was arrested on suspicion of attacking the fan at a hotel in Wolverhampton, in December 2016

Mr Williams, of Croydon, south London, was granted unconditional bail until his trial at the same court on 14 May at the same court.

During a 36-minute hearing, co-defendant Jamien Nagadhana, 31, from Hounslow, west London, also denied assault by penetration in connection with the same incident. He was also bailed.

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

After leaving court, he posed for photos with fans and smiled for their cameras.

The pop star picked one child up for a selfie and laughed and joked with members of the public who recognised him.

JLS rose to fame on ITV reality series The X Factor, on which they finished runners-up in 2008. The boy band went on to release four albums before they split in 2013.

Mr Williams has since released music as a solo artist under the name OWS and appeared on the ITV dancing show Stepping Out.