Michael Le Vell charged with sex offences

Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell – real name Michael Turner – has been charged with nineteen child sex offences, including one of rape.

Le Vell has played mechanic Kevin Webster in the ITV soap since 1983 and has been the part of several major storylines over the years. The latest accusations relate to offences including raping a child, indecently assaulting a minor and sexual activity with a child.

Alison Levitt QC, Principal Legal Advisor to the Director of Public Prosecutions told the press, “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 nineteen offences, including rape of a child.”

Greater Manchester Police confirmed a man had been charged with nearly twenty child sex offences. Le Vell had previously been questioned and released on bail in October 2011 on suspicion of a sexual offence involving a young girl. The case was dropped in January 2012.

The 48-year-old married father-of-two said at the time of the first allegation he aimed to “do everything in my power to prove my innocence”.

The new charges relate to incidents which took place, according to the Crown Prosecution Service, over a nine year period up to 2010. The actor will appear at Manchester Magistrates Court on the 27th of February.

In 1983 Peter Adamson, who had played the character of Len Fairclough since 1961, was accused of indecently assaulting two eight-year old girls in a public swimming pool. The police complaint came to nothing, however it was reported that Adamson, who died in 2002, later admitted his guilt. Last year fellow former Corrie actor Andrew Lancel was charged with five counts of sexually abusing a child. Lancel will stand trial in June.

Michael Turner changed his name to Le Vell due to there already being an established actor named Michael Turner, who is possibly best known for his role as James Henry Pollard in fellow ITV soap Crossroads between 1981 and 1985.