Le Vell to give 'rape' trial evidence

Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell will go into the witness box today to defend himself against accusations that he raped and sexually abused a young girl.

The star, who plays car mechanic Kevin Webster in the ITV soap, will give evidence to the jury at Manchester Crown Court on the fourth day of his trial.

He is accused of 12 charges in all – five counts of rape, three of indecent assault, two counts of sexual activity with a child and two of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

The alleged offences relate to one complainant and are said to have taken place between September 2002 and September 2010.

Earlier the court heard he is alleged to have raped the girl while she clutched a teddy bear during one attack.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, wept as she told the court that Le Vell told her it was their “little secret”.

The 48-year-old, who lives in Hale, Cheshire, is charged under his real name of Michael Turner. He denies all the charges and has called the claims “an absolute pack of lies”.

The father-of-two, originally from Manchester, is one of TV’s most famous faces after playing garage owner and mechanic Kevin Webster for the past 30 years.

He began his showbusiness career at the Oldham Theatre Workshop after taking an interest in amateur dramatics while at school.

He first joined Coronation Street in 1983 and quickly endeared himself to fans, who have followed the trials and tribulations of Kevin, from Brian Tilsley’s apprentice mechanic through to his stormy marriage to Sally, played by Sally Dynevor, and fathering two girls, Rosie and Sophie.

ITV has said he will not be appearing in any further episodes of the soap pending the outcome of legal proceedings.

His trial before Judge Michael Henshell is scheduled to last around two weeks.