The family of Stranger Things star Charlie Heaton say he was 'caught with cocaine' trying to enter the US after the drug accidentally found its way on to his wallet.
The British actor was flying to LA for the season two launch party of Stranger Things when he is said to have been caught with cocaine by sniffer dogs.
But his mother and sister have now spoken out, claiming the drug found its way on to his wallet at a party two weeks earlier, in a bar or at a shop without his knowledge.
This comes as it was revealed the 23-year-old has a secret love child with his ex-girlfriend Akiko Matsuura, who fell pregnant in May 2014 while the pair were in the rock band Comanechi together.
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The British actor, 23, has a three-year-old son with his ex-partner Akiko Matsuura
Stranger Things star Charlie Heaton pictured here with his rocker ex-girlfriend, Akiko Matsuura
Family of the actor, who plays Jonathan Byers in the Netflix supernatural drama series, say he has never done drugs in the past and was not under the influence at the time he was stopped at LA airport.
Heaton has since undergone tests, including a hair and urine sample, which have come back all clear, according to his family.
They are now hoping the 'misunderstanding' blows over 'sooner rather than later' to allow the British star and continue filming the second season of Stranger Things.
But they have criticised how Charlie was treated by US officials, claiming he was interrogated for three hours and wasn't allowed to call anyone or ask for a lawyer.
They blamed his treatment on his TV star status and claim he was used 'as a target'.
Speaking today at the family home in Bridlington, east Yorkshire, his mother Michelle Lowe, 50, said: 'All that rubbish, it's completely fabricated. I know that but that's all I'm allowed to say on it.
'He's never done drugs in the past. It's completely made up, that's what papers do. I'm not his agent, I'm just his mum so I can't really say too much.
'He is sort of between here, London and America. It would be awful if he wasn't allowed back to America to film but I don't see it shouldn't be.
'He has proven his innocence. It could happen to any of us, you go to a bar or a party. It's just unfortunate really.
'I know that's what has happened. I hope it blows over.'
The star's mother Michelle Lowe (left) and sister Kaayleigh Heaton (right) say Heaton has never done drugs and the incident is merely a 'misunderstanding'
Yorkshire-born Heaton, who has previously starred in DCI Banks and Casualty, plays Jonathan Byers in hit sci-fi show Stranger Things (pictured)
The star was denied entry to America as it was revealed he has a secret love child
His sister Kaayleigh Heaton, 32, added: 'It could have come from anywhere.
'He wasn't carrying drugs, he wasn't high. He's had tests and they have come back clear.
'He not got it in his system or anything. He was at a party two weeks before and obviously when you're at a party anything can happen.
'You leave your things on the side when you're having a drink. It could be that he was at a shop, it be on a note.
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ShareShe added: 'What they've done is wrong, they didn't give him a chance to call anybody. They didn't give him a chance to have a lawyer.
'They put him in a room for three hours and just interrogated him and interrogated him, so it wasn't done correctly.
'They didn't follow procedure. I think they saw him, they noticed him and they used him as a target.
'He wasn't carrying anything, he wasn't under the influence or any drugs. I think it's just a misunderstanding.
Akiko fell pregnant while the pair were in the rock band Comanechi together, in May 2014
Heaton's ex-girlfriend has posted a number of heartwarming pictures of the actor and musician with his baby boy on social media
'He's been unfortunate where he's been to a party, somehow cocaine has got either on his wallet or on his cards, we're not sure.
'He didn't know anything about it, he went to the airport to fly, they checked and he is racking his brain about how this could happen.
'He hasn't done anything, he wasn't carrying anything. He's had tests that have come back clean.
'He has had hair sample, a blood test and urine sample which are absolutely clean. A Hair sample can last up to five months so that proves he hasn't taken anything.
'I think it will be fine because it's not like he has done anything.'
Michelle could not say when she was due to see her son again as he splits his him between Bridlington, London and America.
The pair are said to have 'fallen head over heels in love' before Heaton became a father at the age of 20
Heaton (right) is not believed to see his son regularly and the boy lives with his mother (left), in London
Due to his demanding schedule filming hit-show Stranger Things in Los Angeles, Yorkshire-born Heaton is not believed to see his son regularly.
The youngster lives with his mother, who performs in the band The Big Pink, in London.
A source told the Sun: 'Charlie became a dad when he was just 20. He met Akiko when he was just a teen and fell head over heels in love.
'They're no longer together but they have an amicable relationship for the boy's sake.
'Right now Charlie's career is his priority but he hopes to see more of his son once filming commitments calm down.'
The pair are no longer together according to friends, but have an amicable relationship for the sake of their son
US border officials last Saturday denied the actor entry to the country and deported him back to London where he had flown from just hours before.
It meant that he was missing from the glitzy premiere of the Netflix-produced supernatural show on Thursday evening.
It is also now feared that Heaton could be barred from entering the US in future meaning he could struggle to take part in filming for Stranger Things.
A source claimed: 'He was not arrested. He was held at the airport for a while and then put back on a plane to London that night.
'If you are a foreign national and it is a large amount of drugs you may be charged.
'But if it is personal use, the consequences are that you will not be allowed in to the country. US law is very strict on this.'
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Heaton.
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