Coronation Street’s Michael Le Vell said he was “delighted” and it was a “big weight off everyone’s shoulders” after he was cleared of child sex abuse charges.
The actor, 48, who enjoyed a “luxury, charmed life”, had maintained his innocence throughout and was acquitted of 12 child sex offences.
He heard the foreman of the jury deliver the not guilty verdicts to a hushed and packed courtroom at the end of an eight-day trial at Manchester Crown Court.
His accuser, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was not in court to hear the verdicts but the “bubbly, lovely, naive” youngster had earlier sobbed as she claimed Le Vell, known to millions of TV fans as the soap’s Kevin Webster, raped her as she clutched a teddy bear.
Her claims were dismissed by the jury after being described in court as “inconsistent, incoherent and unbelievable”.
After walking free from court, Le Vell said he was “delighted” and thanked ITV for their “continued support throughout this traumatic time for all of us”.
“It’s a big weight off everyone’s shoulders,” he said. “I might go and have a drink now.”
Commenting after the verdicts, a spokeswoman for Coronation Street said: “We are looking forward to meeting with Michael to discuss his return to the programme.”