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Coronation Street's Le Vell cleared of child rape Coronation Street's Le Vell cleared of child rape
(35 minutes later)
Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell has been cleared of raping a child. Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell has been cleared of a number of sexual offences against a child, including rape and indecent assault.
Mr Le Vell, 48, of Hale, Greater Manchester, denied 12 charges in total, including five of rape.Mr Le Vell, 48, of Hale, Greater Manchester, denied 12 charges in total, including five of rape.
Manchester Crown Court heard the girl, who cannot be named, claimed she was abused from the age of six until she was 14. His accuser, who cannot be named, claimed she was abused from the age of six until she was 14.
Mr Le Vell, who has played garage mechanic Kevin Webster in the soap for 30 years, was tried under his real name Michael Turner. Speaking outside court, he thanked his family and ITV for their support and said he was "going to have a drink".
The jury of eight women and four men took four hours to return verdicts of not guilty on all charges. Jury 'thanks'
The actor also faced charges of indecent assault, sexual activity with a child and causing a child to engage in sexual activity. Mr Le Vell, who has played garage mechanic Kevin Webster in the soap for 30 years, was tried at Manchester Crown Court under his real name Michael Turner.
The jury of eight women and four men took four hours to return verdicts of not guilty on all counts.
The actor had also faced charges of indecent assault, sexual activity with a child and causing a child to engage in sexual activity.
As the verdicts were read out, Mr Le Vell nodded to the jury and mouthed "thank you" as relatives in court sobbed.
As he left the court he said he was "delighted" and that the result was "a weight off everyone's shoulders".
He is now expected to return to the soap.
An ITV spokesman said: "We are looking forward to meeting with Michael to discuss his return to the programme."
His accuser, now aged 17, had told the court he had raped her while putting a teddy bear over her mouth to keep her quiet.
She alleged that he had told her he was "just getting rid of all the evil and bad inside me".
But Alisdair Williamson, for the defence, said her evidence was "inconsistent" and "unbelievable" with an "agonising lack of detail".
During the eight day trial the Mr Le Vell admitted he had battled "demons" in his private life and that he was an alcoholic, who would drink up to nine pints a night.
The court heard his "dark secret" was that he had a string of one-night stands behind the back of his wife of 25 years, Janette Beverley, and had an affair while she was being treated for breast cancer.
Mr Williamson told the jury that while Le Vell might be described as a "weak, stupid and drunk man" and a "bad husband", he was not a child rapist.