EastEnders actor Joshua Pascoe has reportedly been arrested and questioned by police over allegations of sexual assault. According to the Mirror the 16-year-old, who plays troubled Ben Mitchell in the soap, was freed on bail after being quizzed. A Metropolitan police spokesman told the paper, "A 16-year-old boy was arrested on May 24 in connection with an allegation of sexual assault. "He was taken to Islington Police Station and has since been bailed to return to a North London police station in July pending further inquiries." A spokesman for the soap said they were "aware of the allegations" and added, "Given that there is a police investigation underway, it would not be appropriate to comment at this time." A source told The Sun that Joshua's mother had been left "distraught" by the teenager's arrest. "He's only 16, so it's very upsetting for the whole family," the insider added. Joshua is the fourth actor to play Ben Mitchell, who is Phil's son - and has had a troubled life which saw him abused by Phil's girlfriend Stella when he was younger. Since then he has spent time in juvenile detention, kidnapped shopkeeper Patrick Trueman, attacked Glenda Mitchell and tried to frame his father for murder. More recently he murdered Heather Trott after raiding her house for money - and recently confessed his crime to Ian Beale. Joshua was nominated for Villain Of The Year at the recent British Soap Awards, but lost out to Coronation Street's Andrew Lancel, who played Frank Foster.
