Corrie star faces child sex charges
Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell, who plays a garage boss in the TV soap, has been charged with child sex offences. Le Vell, 48, whose real name is Michael Turner, is accused of 19 sex offences, including raping a child, indecently assaulting a...
Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell, who plays a garage boss in the TV soap, has been charged with child sex offences.
Le Vell, 48, whose real name is Michael Turner, is accused of 19 sex offences, including raping a child, indecently assaulting a child and sexual activity with a child.
A stalwart on the popular ITV series, the actor will appear in court in two weeks’ time, Greater Manchester Police said.
Le Vell was first arrested in September 2011 and questioned over alleged child sex offences, but the matter was dropped three months later because of lack of evidence.
At the time the actor said he was “delighted” to have been “completely exonerated”, thanked police for their “thorough” investigation and Coronation Street staff and the public for their support.
Le Vell vowed to put the allegations behind him and returned to the show after a short break. But late on Thursday night, the actor, from Hale, Cheshire, was charged with sex offences against a youngster after a review of evidence by lawyers from the Crown Prosecution Service.
Le Vell is one of British television’s most famous faces after playing car mechanic Kevin Webster for the past 30 years.
He first joined the soap in 1983 and quickly endeared himself to fans who have followed the trials and tribulations of Kevin from his apprenticeship through to his stormy marriage to Sally (Sally Dynevor) and fathering two teenage girls as well as a love child from his affair with Molly Dobbs (Vicky Binns).
The actor split from his wife Janette Beverley last year.