A 78-year-old Ipswich man has been cleared of sexually assaulting a schoolgirl more than 50 years ago.

A 78-year-old Ipswich man has been cleared of sexually assaulting a schoolgirl more than 50 years ago.

The alleged victim, who is now aged in her sixties, was aged about 10 when Robert Locke allegedly touched her between the legs, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

When the alleged victim was about 12 years old, Locke had allegedly got her on to the floor and told her he was going to tickle her before he allegedly “groped” her breasts.

Locke, of Swallow Road, Ipswich, denied two offences of indecently assaulting the girl between 1962 and 1967.

He was found not guilty of one of the offences and the jury was discharged after failing to reach a verdict on the other charge.

A not guilty verdict was entered on the court record on that charge after the prosecution said it would not be seeking a retrial.

Locke denied all of the allegations against him and had accused the complainant of lying.