(This post was originally posted by Graeme N on the Coronation Street Blog in September 2013.)From BBC News Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell has been cleared of raping a child.
Mr Le Vell, 48, of Hale, Greater Manchester, denied 12 charges in total, including five of rape.
Manchester Crown Court heard the girl, who cannot be named, claimed she was abused from the age of six until she was 14.
Speaking outside court, he thanked his family and ITV for their support during a "traumatic time" and said he was "going to have a drink".
Mr Le Vell, who has played garage mechanic Kevin Webster in the soap for 30 years, was tried under his real name Michael Turner.
The jury of eight women and four men took four hours to return verdicts of not guilty on all counts.
The actor had also faced charges of indecent assault,
sexual activity with a child and causing a child to engage in sexual
activity.
As the verdicts were read out, Mr Le Vell nodded to the jury and mouthed "thank you" as relatives in court sobbed.
As he left the court he said he was "delighted" and that it was "a weight off everyone's shoulders".
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