UK soap star charged with multiple child sex offenses

A face recognizable to many of our UK readers has been arrested on charges of some horrific crimes.

Actor Michael Le Vell (real name Michael Turner), a cast member for 30 years on the long-running soap opera "Coronation Street," has been accused of numerous child sex offenses.

The actor has played garage mechanic Kevin Webster on the iconic series, which has been a flagship early evening soap opera. News of the charges were first made public Friday morning. In total, the 48-year-old Le Vell has been brought up on 19 sex offenses over ten years, including raping a child, indecently assaulting a child and sexual activity with a child.

Greater Manchester police charged the actor and announced that Le Vell will appear in court on Feb. 27 to face the charges. The police statement read: "A man has been charged with 19 child sex offenses. Michael Turner, of Byrom Street, Hale, has been charged with 19 offenses including raping a child, indecently assaulting a child and sexual activity with a child. The charges, which were authorized by the CPS following a review of evidence, relate to offenses against a child between 2001 and 2010."

Evidently these charges are not new, as Le Vell had previously been arrested in September 2011 on similar charges, but the investigation was dropped three months later due to lack of evidence.