'It's all lies': Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell hits back over child rape claims but admits to nine-pint drinking binges and one-night stands The 48-year-old was giving evidence on the fourth day of the trial By Louise Eccles and Jaya Narain Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell yesterday said claims he had repeatedly raped a young girl were "nonsense" and "a pack of lies." Telling the jury at his trial he was "fighting for his life," he said the girl, who claimed she was raped at the age of six, nine and ten, had made up the allegations against him. Le Vell, 48, told the court: "I don't know where she has got this imagination from. She is making it all up, I'm afraid. That girl is seriously deluded, I'm sorry. It's all nonsense. The actor said his whole life had been torn apart by the allegations and he felt like a "lost soul." But he acknowledged that he once got on a bed in which his alleged victim was sleeping, telling officers who arrested him in 2011 he had done so after becoming disoriented by drink. Later in a police interview, which was played in court, Le Vell claimed he had only briefly lain on the bed, not in it, telling the interrogating officer that if he had touched her, "It wasn't anything sexual." In court Le Vell also admitted contacting Alcoholics Anonymous after developing a nine-pints-a-night habit, and having a series of one-night stands during his marriage. At one stage Le Vell, who has played garage mechanic Kevin Webster in the ITV soap for 30 years, was accused by prosecutor Eleanor Laws, QC, of drawing on his acting experience because of his need to be "persuasive." But he said: "It's nothing like an acting job. I'm just here, yes, I'm fighting for my life. The dramatic exchanges came on the fourth day of his trial at Manchester Crown Court. Le Vell denies five counts of rape, three of indecent assault, two counts of sexual activity with a child and two of causing a child to engage in sexual activity. A court sketch of Le Vell giving evidence at Manchester Crown Court, where he admitted having affairs during his marriage Michael Le Vell, centre, follows a minder as he arrives at Manchester Crown Court for day four of his trial Giving evidence in his defence, Le Vell - charged under his real name of Michael Turner - looked tense as he stood with his arms clasped behind his back and spoke in a trembling voice. Alisdair Williamson, defending, asked the star how he felt at being accused of the repeatedly raping and sexually abusing a young girl after he was first told of the allegations in September 2011. Le Vell replied: "How do I feel? I'm devastated, I'm lost. I don't understand where it's come from. It's left such a big hole in my life. I'm like a lost soul and I still want to get to the bottom of why this has happened to me and why I'm being accused of this because I know none of this happened. I have been walking around for the last two years just not knowing. Mr Williamson asked the star whether he had ever undressed the girl and sexually assaulted her, and whether he had gone on to rape her in her bed. Le Vell replied: "Never in a million years would I do anything like that." The court heard Le Vell and his wife had separated after 25 years of marriage and he was living with a friend. The soap star admitted having a series of one-night stands during his marriage and had to deal with the "guilt" of his betrayals. He also told the jury that as his marriage collapsed he began an affair with a woman who had been a close friend and "confidante." Le Vell told the jury that his "working class mentality" meant drinking had been an issue, and he often downed up to nine pints a night near his home in Hale, Cheshire. He said he had attended Alcoholics Anonymous twice but had started drinking heavily again. He told the court he would go to the pub most nights of the week, especially if he had been filming Coronation Street. Le Vell told the court he sought help for his drinking twice through Alcoholics Anonymous about six and three years ago, saying: 'I lasted two weeks each attempt' The trial heard how Le Vell (pictured, right, leaving court) had told police that he drank 'too much' and had 'tried going to AA once or twice' He said: "I'm a bloke, after work I'm going to go and wind down for an hour or two. I know it sounds chauvinistic - that's the way I was brought up unfortunately. Miss Laws put it to Le Vell that he had a drink problem, adding: "And you have your demons?" He replied: "It depends what you mean, if you mean demon drink, yes." The court heard he was "struck dumb" and his legs turned to "jelly" when the allegations were first put to him. After he was accused of rape by the alleged victim's mother, he told police: "I just said to the girl's mother, "Please tell me you are f****** joking. I was in total shock. I'm more or less struck dumb at the allegations to be honest. Later in the police interview an officer said Le Vell had said: "This is a life changing thing. I'm still in shock. I'm absolutely mortified and deny everything that has been alleged I have done. Le Vell faces further examination today. ÷ POLICE yesterday arrested a 43-year-old man from Gloucestershire after he was accused of tweeting the identity of Le Vell's alleged victim. 'I'm devastated and lost': Le Vell describes being accused of child sex abuse Asked by his lawyer Alisdair Williamson how he felt at being accused of the rape and sex abuse of a young girl he said: 'I'm devastated, I'm lost, I don't understand where it's come from. Le Vell told the jury he was born in Manchester in 1964 and got into acting at school, aged 12, in the play Kes before working on Coronation Street for around 30 years. Mr Williamson said in 'all that time' Le Vell had never been in trouble and was, he added: 'What we lawyers call a man of good character.' Ms Laws asked the officer. 'This is a life-changing thing': Le Vell tells police claims will 'cost me my job' 'I have not got a clue why she's doing it': Le Vell describes 'victim' as 'deluded' The case was adjourned for the day and the cross-examination will continue at 10.30am tomorrow.