Coronation Street Actor Michael Le Vell charged with 19 offences including raping a child, indecently assaulting a child and sexual activity with a child
By: Munreporter
Thursday, 15 TH February, 2013
Manchester actor Michael Le Vell; real name Michael Robert Turner, who is known for his long-time acting role as mechanic Kevin Webster in the television soap Coronation Street; has been charged with child sex offences allegedly carried out over a 10-year period.
A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman said: “Michael Turner, of Byrom Street, Hale, has been charged with 19 offences including raping a child, indecently assaulting a child and sexual activity with a child.
Alison Levitt QC, principal legal adviser to the Director of Public Prosecutions, said she had reviewed a decision not to prosecute Mr Le Vell following allegations made against him in 2011.
She said: “I have very carefully reviewed the evidence in this case and I have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to charge Michael Robert Turner with a number of sexual offences.
“I have authorised Greater Manchester Police to charge Mr Turner with 19 offences, including rape of a child.
“Mr Turner has now been charged with criminal offences and has a right to a fair trial.”
Le Vell’s niece, Jackie Green, famously won £10m in the National Lottery in 1996.
Le Vell, has been in the soap since 1983.
He was first arrested in September 2011 and questioned over alleged child sex offences, but the matter was later dropped.
The actor said at that time he was ‘delighted’ to have been ‘completely exonerated’, thanked police for their ‘thorough’ investigation and Coronation Street staff and the public for their support.
The actor was born in Newton Heath, attended the local Briscoe Line Primary School, before going on to Moston Brook High School for boys. After which he then attended and trained at Oldham Theatre Workshop.
The actor split from his wife actress Janette Beverley last year.
He is due to appear at Manchester Magistrates Court on Wednesday 27 TH February, 2013.