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Michael Le Vell says girl may have got 'money to lie' about sex attacks Michael Le Vell tells court he is 'fighting for my life'
(about 2 hours later)
Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell has told a court the girl he has been accused of raping is "vindictive" and may have been "given money to lie". Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell has told a court the girl he has been accused of raping is "vindictive" and that he was "fighting for my life".
Mr Le Vell, 48, who is on trial under his real name Michael Turner, denies 12 offences, including five of rape.Mr Le Vell, 48, who is on trial under his real name Michael Turner, denies 12 offences, including five of rape.
He told Manchester Crown Court the girl had a "tendency to lie". Prosecuting, Eleanor Laws QC said he was "clutching at straws" in making that accusation. Asked about the girl's claims, he said: "Never in a million years would I do anything like that."
The girl, who cannot be named, alleges she was abused from age six to 14. Prosecution barrister at Manchester Crown Court, Eleanor Laws QC, accused him of "clutching at straws".
The girl, who cannot be named, alleges she was abused from the age of six until she was 14.
The actor, from Hale in Greater Manchester, also faces three counts of indecent assault, two of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two of sexual activity with a child.The actor, from Hale in Greater Manchester, also faces three counts of indecent assault, two of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two of sexual activity with a child.
'Unforgivable secret''Unforgivable secret'
Answering questions from Ms Laws, Mr Le Vell said the allegations were a "lie that escalated" and that the alleged victim could not stop it. Answering questions from Ms Laws, Mr Le Vell was asked how he felt at being accused of the allegations.
The prosecutor said it had "never been more important" for Mr Le Vell to be "persuasive", comparing that need to his acting. "I'm devastated, I'm lost. I don't understand where it's come from. It's left such a big hole in life.
"I'm like a lost soul and I still want to get to the bottom of why this has happened to me and why I'm being accused of this because I know none of this happened.
"I have been walking around for the last two years just not knowing."
"Never in a million years would I do anything like that."
Ms Laws said it had "never been more important" for him to be "persuasive", comparing that need in court to his acting.
He said he was "just here to tell the truth" and that in acting, "you never get put in a position like this".He said he was "just here to tell the truth" and that in acting, "you never get put in a position like this".
"They never teach you to be here and face what I have been faced with for the last two years. No-one can teach you that."They never teach you to be here and face what I have been faced with for the last two years. No-one can teach you that.
"I'm fighting for my life.""I'm fighting for my life."
Responding to defence lawyer Alisdair Williamson, Mr Le Vell said he had kept an "unforgivable secret" that he had had "several one night stands" throughout his marriage. Asked if he was a man with "demons", he replied: "It depends what you mean, if you mean demon drink, yes."
He admitted he was a heavy drinker who would "go to the pub most nights".
"It's a working class mentality. I'm a bloke, that's the way I've been brought up," he said."It's a working class mentality. I'm a bloke, that's the way I've been brought up," he said.
He said he had been to Alcoholics Anonymous on two occasions and had lasted two weeks on each attempt. Ms Laws said: "You're nothing like your screen character."
Asking about that issue, Ms Laws said the actor had "demons" when he drank.
"You're nothing like your screen character," she said.
"I don't pretend to be," he replied."I don't pretend to be," he replied.
'Turned to jelly'
Earlier, the court heard from Det Con Rothwell, who interviewed Mr Le Vell after his arrest in September 2011.
He said the actor had claimed he "honestly had not got a clue why she had made these allegations" and "didn't know where [they] had come from".
The officer said Mr Le Vell claimed that when he was confronted with the accusations by the girl's mother, "you could've just blown me over... my legs turned to jelly".
The jury also heard that Mr Le Vell said the allegations could cost him his job on the popular ITV drama, where he has played the role of Kevin Webster for the past three decades.
The trial continues.The trial continues.