As we reported last week, Corrie star Michael Le Vell has been cleared of the charge of suspected sexual assault, for which he was arrested last September.

However, though Michael has revealed that he’s had unstinting support from those who know him best, including his Corrie co-stars and the executives of the show, the allegation made against him by an unnamed woman made him feel suicidal.

Speaking to the Sun, Michael – whose real name is Michael Turner and who first appeared on Corrie as paperboy Neil Grimshaw – said, “It’s been a struggle to stay sane.

“At times, I felt like throwing myself under a bus. I was in a bad way.”

And though Le Vell added that he was “thrilled” to have been cleared by the CPS, who threw out the case due to lack of evidence, he fears that mud sticks.

He said, “People will always think, ‘There’s no smoke without fire,’ even though it was a complete lie.”

And in yesterday’s Sunday People, Michael called for a change in the law which would stop anyone accused of sexual assault being publicly named.

He said, “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.

“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.”

I agree entirely with Michael on that point. It’s surely horribly easy for someone to accuse a person who’s in the public eye of a sexual assault – assuming the allegations are, as in this case, false – and could potentially ruin someone’s life and career.

Would you agree that there should be a change in the law that so that suspected sex offenders cannot be named until they’re found guilty?

Or do you think it’s just an unfortunate few who suffer, but that it’s for the greater good to keep the law as it is?