Coronation Street soap star Michael Le Vell cleared in child sex case
Michael Le Vell, veteran star of British soap Coronation Street was cleared of child sex abuse charges on Tuesday and walked from court a free man. The actor, 48, who enjoyed a “luxury, charmed life”, had maintained his innocence throughout and was acquitted of 12 serious child sex offences.
Joyful Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell said he was looking forward to a drink after he was today cleared of child abuse charges.
The 48-year-old mouthed the words “thank you” to the jury of eight women and four men who dismissed a string of allegations made by his accuser, who claimed she had been raped and abused while a young girl.
Le Vell kept his emotions in check as his family members in the public gallery wept, as one by one, not guilty verdicts on the 12 counts were delivered but the strain of the seven-day trial was apparent as he appeared drained when he left the dock.
Jurors took just under five hours to reach their verdicts at Manchester Crown Court after they were told by the judge yesterday that their assessment of Le Vell’s accuser was “critical”.
They faced a stark decision on the truth in that either the girl had entered the witness box to recall traumatic events she had suffered or she was a dishonest person who had come to court to “quite literally destroy” the life of the defendant, said Judge Michael Henshell.