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'Coronation Street's Michael Le Vell wants law change

Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell has called for a change in the law after being falsely accused of child abuse.

The actor, who plays Kevin Webster in the ITV1 soap, has demanded that suspects names aren't made public until they are found guilty.

Le Vell was cleared of all allegations that he sexually abused a schoolgirl earlier this month.

According to The People, he told relatives: "No-one should have to go through what I've been through. These are the worst sort of ­allegations anyone could face. Saying I raped a kid, it's just horrific.

Michael Le Vell

© PA Images

"It's wrong that people can be named like this. It's been worse for me ­because I'm well-known, I'm high-profile. Things need to change. People's identities should remain secret until they are convicted of a crime like this. I'm thrilled the allegations have been dropped, but I'll ­always have this with me.

"Some people will always think, 'There's no smoke without fire' even though the claims were a complete lie. I was dreading coming home [from holiday], I didn't know what was going to happen. I was due to go to the police station this week to see if I was being charged or not."

Le Vell admitted that there were times during the investigation he felt like throwing himself "under a bus".

He concluded that he has no animosity towards the teenager who made the allegations, but he feels angry that the law allowed him to be "named and shamed". Get the Inside Soap magazine on your iPhone or iPad

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