Coronation Street actor denies carrying out series of sex attacks on young girl, he tells court in Manchester
The Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell today repeatedly denied carrying out a series of sex attacks on a young girl.
Le Vell, 48, who plays car mechanic Kevin Webster in the ITV soap, frequently gripped the sides of the witness box as he addressed the jury at Manchester Crown Court.
Eleanor Laws, QC, prosecuting, asked: "It took you over, didn't it? You were ashamed, but you couldn't stop it, could you?"
Le Vell, appearing in court under his real name, Michael Turner, replied: "I didn't start it. It never happened. There was nothing to stop"
He went on: "What foolish man would even attempt to do that and risk − and I mean risk − getting caught?"
Laws alleged that the actor was "so shocked" when the girl eventually made her allegations because "you thought you'd got away with it".
He replied: "I wasn't shocked because I didn't do anything."
Laws suggested he had demons' in his head, and that these had come about because of the abuse he had inflicted on Girl X.
"No, not at all," said Le Vell.
Laws: "And that ... you were finding it difficult to live with yourself ... No one's all bad, are they?"
Le Vell rejected the notion that he had been finding it difficult to live with himself. "No," he said.
Laws put it to Le Vell: "You have to keep denying it, don't you, because you're fighting for your life?"
"No," said the actor.
"But you stared and stared at her, and were watching her, and that went on for a while, didn't it?"
Le Vell: "No."
The barrister alleged he was so drunk after some of the alleged attacks that he could not recall them.
Le Vell replied: "I should imagine anyone would remember something like that if it happened."
Laws persisted: "You may try to block it out, but you know it happened, don't you?"
He replied: "It didn't happen."
Le Vell was asked whether he had ever had problems getting an erection.
"Maybe a couple of times," he replied.
Those occasions had nothing to do with his consumption of alcohol, he added.
The actor denies 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 case continues. Reported by guardian.co.uk 9 hours ago.
The Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell today repeatedly denied carrying out a series of sex attacks on a young girl.
Le Vell, 48, who plays car mechanic Kevin Webster in the ITV soap, frequently gripped the sides of the witness box as he addressed the jury at Manchester Crown Court.
Eleanor Laws, QC, prosecuting, asked: "It took you over, didn't it? You were ashamed, but you couldn't stop it, could you?"
Le Vell, appearing in court under his real name, Michael Turner, replied: "I didn't start it. It never happened. There was nothing to stop"
He went on: "What foolish man would even attempt to do that and risk − and I mean risk − getting caught?"
Laws alleged that the actor was "so shocked" when the girl eventually made her allegations because "you thought you'd got away with it".
He replied: "I wasn't shocked because I didn't do anything."
Laws suggested he had demons' in his head, and that these had come about because of the abuse he had inflicted on Girl X.
"No, not at all," said Le Vell.
Laws: "And that ... you were finding it difficult to live with yourself ... No one's all bad, are they?"
Le Vell rejected the notion that he had been finding it difficult to live with himself. "No," he said.
Laws put it to Le Vell: "You have to keep denying it, don't you, because you're fighting for your life?"
"No," said the actor.
"But you stared and stared at her, and were watching her, and that went on for a while, didn't it?"
Le Vell: "No."
The barrister alleged he was so drunk after some of the alleged attacks that he could not recall them.
Le Vell replied: "I should imagine anyone would remember something like that if it happened."
Laws persisted: "You may try to block it out, but you know it happened, don't you?"
He replied: "It didn't happen."
Le Vell was asked whether he had ever had problems getting an erection.
"Maybe a couple of times," he replied.
Those occasions had nothing to do with his consumption of alcohol, he added.
The actor denies 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 case continues. Reported by guardian.co.uk 9 hours ago.