Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell says he is “delighted” at being found not guilty of 12 child sex offences, including five of rape, by a jury at Manchester crown court.
Speaking outside the court, he said he was “delighted” at the verdict and that it was “a weight off everyone’s shoulders”.
He also thanked his family and ITV for their support during a “traumatic time” and said he was “going to have a drink”.
The 48-year-old was tried under his real name of Michael Turner, and denied 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 jury in his sex abuse trial at Manchester crown court deliberated for around five hours.
“We must look at the issue of anonymity.” Michael #LeVell‘s friend and former Corrie star reacts to verdicts #c4news pic.twitter.com/hRP4lYCiLG
— Darshna Soni (@darshnasoni) September 10, 2013
The jurors had been told they must decide if the alleged victim was telling the truth or set out to “quite literally destroy the life” of the actor.
The eight women and four men decided they believed Le Vell, who has played garage mechanic Kevin Webster in the ITV1 soap for 30 years.
His accuser, now aged 17, had told the court he had raped her while putting a teddy bear over her mouth to keep her quiet.
She alleged that he had told her he was “just getting rid of all the evil and bad inside me”.
There were gasps in the public gallery as Mr Le Vell's family heard the not guilty verdicts, writes Channel 4 News Home Affairs Correspondent Darshna Soni. The actor started to cry and mouthed "Thank you" to the jury.
There was never any forensic evidence against Mr Le Vell and the CPS will now face questions about whether the case should have been brought.
The trial also raised the issue of anonymity for suspects in sexual abuse cases.