A LATIN American dance teacher was today (Wednesday) starting to rebuild his life after being cleared of child abuse.A jury at Ipswich Crown Court took less than an hour to find Michael Cereso Miranda, 43, of Northgate Street, Ipswich not guilty of two offences of indecently assaulting a seven year old girl.

A LATIN American dance teacher was today (Wednesday) starting to rebuild his life after being cleared of child abuse.

A jury at Ipswich Crown Court took less than an hour to find Michael Cereso Miranda, 43, of Northgate Street, Ipswich not guilty of two offences of indecently assaulting a seven year old girl.

Cereso Miranda originally stood trial for the two offences in February but the jury on that occasion was discharged after failing to reach verdicts and the matter was adjourned until this week for a re-trial.

After yesterday's verdicts defence counsel Mark Wyeth said his client wished to thank the jury for the care it took in reaching its decision.

He said the case had been hanging over his client since last year and he was now keen to start putting the pieces of his life back together again.

During the two day trial it was alleged that Cereso Miranda removed the girl's pyjama bottoms and indecently touched her between the legs on two occasions.

Giving evidence Cereso Miranda claimed that the girl had been doing rolly pollies on his bed and had accidentally landed on his face.

He denied deliberately touching her private parts.

Cross-examined by prosecution counsel Anthony Bate, he denied that he had indecently assaulted the girl during "a few minutes of madness" and that he was too ashamed to admit what he had done.

During the trial the court heard that the defendant had taught dance and percussion in primary and secondary schools in Norfolk and Suffolk.