AN Ipswich man has been cleared of indecently assaulting a young girl.The Ipswich Crown Court jury of seven men and five women had found Samuel Ross not guilty of three counts of indecent assault.
AN Ipswich man has been cleared of indecently assaulting a young girl.
The Ipswich Crown Court jury of seven men and five women had found Samuel Ross not guilty of three counts of indecent assault.
After nearly eight hours of deliberations the jury could not reach majority verdicts on a further three counts of indecent assault.
The jury was dismissed and Judge Peter Thompson returned not guilty verdicts on the remaining three counts, as requested by the CPS who said it was not in the interests of the victim to pursue the matter.
During the trial 47-year-old Ross, of Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, denied touching a girl "down below" or on her breasts.
He said he had been "totally shocked" when the allegations had been made.
"I was just so astounded being accused of it" he told the court.
When cross-examined by prosecutor Samantha Leigh he said he had a good relationship with the girl and believed he was set up.
"Our relationship was pretty good" he said, "we got on well". Before telling the jury "all I can think of is I must have been set up".
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