Coronation Street star on child sex charges

Greater Manchester police said in a statement that the actor, real name Michael Turner, who has played garage boss Kevin Webster for the past 30 years, will appear in court on 27 February.

A spokeswoman from GMP said: “A man has been charged with 19 child sex offences. 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.

“He is due to appear at Manchester magistrates (court) on Wednesday, 27 February.

“The charges, which were authorised by the CPS following a review of evidence, relate to offences against a child between 2001 and 2010.”

Mr Le Vell said in a statement: “I am innocent of these charges and intend to fight them vigorously. I will now put all my efforts into clearing my name and proving my innocence. I thank my friends, family and fans for their continued support.”

ITV said on Friday that Mr Le Vell would be written out of Coronation Street, “pending the outcome legal proceedings”.

An ITV spokesman said: “Given the serious nature of these charges, Michael Le Vell will not be appearing in Coronation Street pending the outcome of legal proceedings. It would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this time.”

Evidence reviewed

Le Vell, 48, was first arrested and questioned over the alleged offences in September 2011, but the matter was dropped. However, after a review of the evidence, police are now proceeding with a prosecution.

Alison Levitt, QC, principal legal adviser to the director of public prosecutions, had reviewed a file of evidence in relation to allegations of sexual offences and looked again at a previous decision not to prosecute.

Ms Levitt 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.

“As proceedings are now active, it would be inappropriate to say anything further at this stage.”