Roache told New Zealand's One News that the public should be "totally forgiving" of people who have committed child sex crimes.
But in a statement he has now said: "I would like to say that I am very sorry for any offence that has been caused as a result of my comments. I would never say victims of sexual offences are in any way responsible for abuse they have suffered and I offer my deepest apologies if anything I have said has been misunderstood. I had no intention of causing any kind of distress as a result of my interview and I offer my utmost sympathies to anyone affected by sexual offences and paedophilia."
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