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Michael Le Vell carried out string of sexual attacks on girl, court hears Michael Le Vell raped young girl as she held teddy bear, court hears
(35 minutes later)
The Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell carried out a string of sexual attacks on a girl from the time she was six years old, a court has heard. The Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell raped a young girl as she clutched a teddy bear, a court has been told.
Le Vell, 48, plays the role of the car mechanic Kevin Webster in Britain's favourite TV soap. He allegedly told her: "It's OK, just keep calm, stay asleep … I'm going to get rid of the evil."
He is appearing at Manchester crown court under his real name, Michael Turner, and denies all the charges against him. Le Vell, 48, plays the role of the car mechanic Kevin Webster in the television soap opera. He is appearing at Manchester crown court under his real name, Michael Turner, and denies all the charges against him.
The jury was told that he faces five counts of rape, three of indecent assault, and two each of sexual activity with a child and causing a child to engage in such activity.The jury was told that he faces five counts of rape, three of indecent assault, and two each of sexual activity with a child and causing a child to engage in such activity.
One of the rape allegations is a specimen charge, the others specific to a particular occasion. He sat in the glass-panelled dock wearing a light grey suit and pink tie, with a charcoal grey scarf draped over his shoulders.
Le Vell, from Hale, Cheshire, sat in the glass-panelled dock in a light grey suit with a dark scarf draped over his shoulders. Eleanor Laws QC, prosecuting, told the jury of eight women and four men the abuse began when Le Vell slipped his hand under the girl's clothing. Afterwards Le Vell seemed happy, "as if it was giving him pleasure".
Eleanor Laws QC, prosecuting, told the jury of eight women and four men that after the first occasion of rape the girl had nightmares and frequently wet the bed. She said: "She talked to no one but her teddies about what had happened to her. She was scared if she told anyone she would get into trouble." The abuse progressed to Le Vell allegedly forcing the girl to touch him, with her "too frightened" to do anything to resist.
The first time he raped the girl, she clutched one teddy bear while Le Vell put another teddy bear over her mouth, it is alleged.
"It's OK. I'm making the evil stop once and for all now. It'll be fine," he allegedly told the girl. He then raped the youngster, kissed her on the cheek and left.
The jury heard that on another occasion Le Vell raped the girl orally.
"He did not say anything this time, and after he had finished, he just got up and left," said Laws. "She recalls that afterwards she felt sick."
Laws said that after the first rape the girl had nightmares and frequently wet the bed.
"She talked to no one but her teddies about what had happened to her. She was scared if she told anyone she would get into trouble."
Le Vell had threatened her, telling her: "It's our little secret. No one needs to know, otherwise you'll be taken … You'll die and the evil will come over you."Le Vell had threatened her, telling her: "It's our little secret. No one needs to know, otherwise you'll be taken … You'll die and the evil will come over you."
The child believed him, said Laws.The child believed him, said Laws.
The allegations against Le Vell emerged in September 2011.The allegations against Le Vell emerged in September 2011.
A medical examination found no apparent damage to the girl's hymen.A medical examination found no apparent damage to the girl's hymen.
But Laws said: "It is important to understand that a substantial proportion of sexually abused children have no abnormal signs. Children can be confused as to what full sexual intercourse really involves. But Laws said: "It is important to understand that a substantial proportion of sexually abused children have no abnormal signs. Children can be confused as to what full sexual intercourse really involves."
"It was common for a child with an unsophisticated understanding of what happened to misinterpret simulated or attempted intercourse for full penetration. That is what the Crown suggest has happened in this case." It was common for a child with an unsophisticated understanding of what happened to misinterpret simulated or attempted intercourse for full penetration. "That is what the Crown suggest has happened in this case."
Judge Michael Henshell had emphasised to the provisional jury that the man on trial was Michael Turner, rather than the character he plays in Coronation Street.
He went on to urge them to tell him if they were avid fans of the actor, and gave them 15 minutes to think about it. "If any of you want to be excused, I will excuse you."
Two female jurors were subsequently excused and a further two jurors selected.
Le Vell told police his accuser was "a fantasist and an attention seeker and he thought this was just another of her fantasies".
He accepted that he drank too much and had tried Alcoholics Anonymous in the past, though it had not worked for him.
The trial continues.The trial continues.
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