Street pair face court cases

Michael le Vell

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Coronation Street stars Michael Le Vell and Bill Roache were appearing in separate courts today on sex charges.

Actor Michael Le Vell was going on trial accused of a series of serious child sex offences.

The star, who plays car mechanic Kevin Webster in the ITV soap, is facing 12 charges in all, which are five counts of rape, three of indecent assault, two counts of sexual activity with a child and two of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

The alleged offences relate to one complainant and are said to have taken place between September, 2002 and September, 2010.

The law protects complainants in sexual offence cases and they cannot be named.

Le Vell, 48, who lives in Hale, Cheshire, is charged under his real name of Michael Turner. He denies all charges.

The father of two, originally from Manchester, is one of TV’s most famous faces after playing g Kevin Webster for the past 30 years.

His trial before Judge Michael Henshell at Manchester Crown Court is scheduled to last around two weeks.

Meanwhile, Bill Roache was appearing in court for a further hearing over historic sexual offences against five girls.

The 81–year–old actor is expected to be asked to enter pleas to the charges at Preston Crown Court.

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