'Coronation Street’ star Le Vell awaits jury verdict in rape trial

The jury in the trial of Coronation Street’s Michael Le Vell was told it must decide if the alleged victim is telling the truth or set out to “quite literally destroy the life” of the actor.

The eight women and four male jurors were sent out to consider their verdicts after being told by Judge Michael Henshell that their assessment of the alleged victim was “critical in this case”.

Le Vell, 48, who has played garage mechanic Kevin Webster in the soap for 30 years, is accused of sexually assaulting and raping the youngster, who cannot be named for legal reasons.