Friday, March 1, 2013

Michael Le Vell: Man arrested over 'tweet which revealed identity of Coronation Street actor's alleged rape victim'

Police said a tweet was sent on Wednesday and a 23-year-old man held and then released on bail



A man has been arrested in connection with a tweet that claimed to know the identity ofCoronation Street actor Michael Le Vell's alleged rape victim.
Greater Manchester Police said a Twitter account user sent a message on Wednesday containing personal opinion about who they thought was a sex abuse victim.
A 23-year-old man was arrested today on suspicion of publishing a name, address or photograph that would identify someone who should be anonymous.
Detective chief inspector Chris Bridge, of GMP's Public Protection Division, said: "Maintaining the anonymity of victims of sex offences is absolutely vital and is something that really helps encourage them to come forward.
"Breaching this ruling is an extremely serious offence and that is why we launched an investigation as soon as we became aware.
"Social media is an immensely powerful tool that does an awful lot of good, but it can also be used to spread rumour, speculation and in this case break the law.
"As a force GMP embraces the use of social media but when it is abused in this way we will take robust action to hold those responsible to account."
Victims, and alleged victims, of sexual offences are entitled to lifetime anonymity under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992.
The suspect has been released on bail pending further inquiries, police said.
Le Vell appeared in court this week accused of 19 child sex offences.
Looking haggard and drawn, with dark rings around his eyes, the 48-year-old actor seemed close to tears after stepping into the glass-panelled dock for the eight-minute hearing.
Le Vell, who has played Corrie garage boss Kevin Webster for 30 years, was charged under his real name, Michael Robert Turner.
He faced six counts of raping a girl under 16, six counts of indecent assault of a girl under 16 and seven counts of non-penetrative sexual touching of a girl under 13.
The incidents allegedly happened between 2001 and 2010.
Le Vell was granted bail on condition he surrenders his passport, does not have any unsupervised contact with children under 16 and does not approach witnesses.
He was initially arrested in September 2011 and questioned over alleged child sex offences. It was later announced that the case had been dropped.
But after a review by the Crown Prosecution Service he was re-arrested and charged earlier this month.
Le Vell, who split from his wife of 26 years last year, has denied any wrongdoing.
He recently insisted: “I am innocent of these charges and intend to fight them vigorously.”
ITV has said he will not be appearing in the soap until his trial is over.

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