Twitter Arrest in Coronation Street Kevin Webster Sex Trial

The name of one of Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell's alleged sex victims has been published on Twitter, triggering an arrest.

Police in Manchester swooped after the name was published on the popular microblogging site.

A 23-year-old man, reportedly from Cheadle in Greater Manchester, was questioned.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said: "A man arrested in connection with a tweet that claimed to know the identity of a rape victim has been bailed.

"The 23-year-old, arrested on suspicion of publishing a name, address or photograph that would identify someone that should be anonymous, has been interviewed by officers and bailed pending further enquiries."

Le Vell, whose real name is Michael Turner, plays car mechanic Kevin Webster in the long-running soa. He was forced to step back from working on the show after he was arrested.

His face has been a fixture in millions of households across Britain for nearly 30 years.

Le Vell is charged with child rape among 19 other alleged offences.

Chief Inspector Chris Bridge vowed action against Twitter users who flout rules protecting victims in sex cases.

"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," he 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."

La Vell was arrested after a 2011 investigation by the director of public prosecutions was dropped because of lack of evidence.

He said: "I am innocent of these charges and intend to fight them vigorously."

A close source told the Mirror: "He feels slightly abandoned and isolated. He has had private contact with some of the cast but nothing publicly, which has proved very difficult indeed."