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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Michael Le Vell case: man arrested over Twitter comment | Michael Le Vell case: man arrested over Twitter comment |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Greater Manchester Police have arrested a 23-year-old man on Friday on suspicion of revealing the identity of Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell's alleged victim on Twitter. | Greater Manchester Police have arrested a 23-year-old man on Friday on suspicion of revealing the identity of Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell's alleged victim on Twitter. |
| The force said the tweet, sent on Wednesday, also contained "personal opinion" from the sender about the alleged victim, who like all alleged victims of sexual offences is automatically allowed complete anonymity for life. The man remains in police custody for questioning. | The force said the tweet, sent on Wednesday, also contained "personal opinion" from the sender about the alleged victim, who like all alleged victims of sexual offences is automatically allowed complete anonymity for life. The man remains in police custody for questioning. |
| Detective Chief Inspector Chris Bridge, of GMP's public protection division, said: "Maintaining the anonymity of victims of sex offences is absolutely vital and is something that really helps encourage them to come forward. | Detective Chief Inspector Chris Bridge, of GMP's public protection division, said: "Maintaining the anonymity of victims of sex offences is absolutely vital and is something that really helps encourage them to come forward. |
| "Breaching this ruling is an extremely serious offence and that is why we launched an investigation as soon as we became aware. | "Breaching this ruling is an extremely serious offence and that is why we launched an investigation as soon as we became aware. |
| "Social media is an immensely powerful tool that does an awful lot of good, but it can also be used to spread rumour, speculation and in this case break the law. | "Social media is an immensely powerful tool that does an awful lot of good, but it can also be used to spread rumour, speculation and in this case break the law. |
| "As a force GMP embraces the use of social media but when it is abused in this way we will take robust action to hold those responsible to account." | "As a force GMP embraces the use of social media but when it is abused in this way we will take robust action to hold those responsible to account." |
| Le Vell, who plays Kevin Webster in the ITV soap, has been charged with alleged offences dating between 2001 and 2010. They include six charges of rape, six of indecent assault and seven of sexual touching. | Le Vell, who plays Kevin Webster in the ITV soap, has been charged with alleged offences dating between 2001 and 2010. They include six charges of rape, six of indecent assault and seven of sexual touching. |
| The actor, whose real name is Michael Turner, has been bailed to appear at Manchester Crown Court on 20 March. | The actor, whose real name is Michael Turner, has been bailed to appear at Manchester Crown Court on 20 March. |
| He has denied any wrongdoing and his solicitor said that the charges would be "fully contested". | He has denied any wrongdoing and his solicitor said that the charges would be "fully contested". |
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