Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell pleaded not guilty to sexual offences including raping a young girl as he appeared in court Monday for the start of his trial.
The actor, charged under his real name Michael Turner, is accused of 12 offences spanning a nine-year period.
He faces five counts of rape, three counts of indecent assault, two of sexual activity with a child and two of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.
The 48-year-old, from Hale, Cheshire, pleaded not guilty to all the charges as they were read to him ahead of the start of his trial at Manchester Crown Court.
The actor has starred for 30 years as car mechanic Kevin Webster in the ITV soap, making him one of the show’s longest serving and best-known cast members.
ITV has said that he will not be appearing in any further episodes until the conclusion of the trial, which is expected to last two weeks.
Coronation Street star Le Vell denies raping girl
