MANCHESTER (TIP):Coronation Street actor Michael LeVell has been charged with astring of sex offences, includingraping a child.Greater Manchester Police saidhe is also accused of indecentlyassaulting a child and sexualactivity with a child.The actor, 48, who plays KevinWebster in the ITV1 soap, faces atotal of 19 charges relating tocrimes allegedly committedbetween 2001 and 2010.
Mr Le Vell, whose real name isMichael Turner, is due beforemagistrates in Manchester on 27February.Alison Levitt QC, principal legaladviser to the Director of PublicProsecutions, said she hadreviewed a decision not toprosecute Mr Le Vell followingallegations made against him in2011.She said: “I have very carefullyreviewed the evidence in this caseand I have concluded that there issufficient evidence and it is in thepublic interest to charge MichaelRobert Turner with a number ofsexual offences.”I have authorised GreaterManchester Police to charge MrTurner with 19 offences, includingrape of a child.”Mr Turner has now beencharged with criminal offencesand has a right to a fair trial.”The actor, from Hale in GreaterManchester, has played the role ofgarage mechanic Kevin Websterfor 30 years, making him one ofthe longest-serving performers inCoronation Street.