A 74-YEAR-OLD Mitch-

eldean man broke down in tears after a jury cleared him of sexually assaulting a girl four times when she was aged between six and 14.

The jury at Gloucester Crown Court took just 10 minutes to acquit Albert James, of St Michael's Close, of all four charges against him.

Mr James stood to thank the judge and jury but as he turned to leave the dock the relief overcame him and he burst into tears, and leaned forward grasping the rail beside him.

A dock officer went to his aid and helped him from the dock onto a bench where an usher asked him if he would like relatives outside to come to help him.

Thanking the jury for their service, Judge William Hart said: "This is the sort of case which is always very troubling.

"It is the sort of case where I am afraid there are no winners and no losers.

"Every allegation of this sort is always taken very seriously and this one was taken seriously and quite properly so. It was very carefully investigated and very carefully prosecuted.

"You had the full picture. The police, when they arrest someone, don't have the full picture. No one does until the end of a trial. That is why you perform a vital function."

Mr James had allegedly stripped off the girl's clothing and performed an indecent sex act in front of her.

He was also alleged to have threatened that if she told anyone he would smother her and her brothers and sisters.

The girl, now 21, told the court his attacks had made her 'evil' in her teens and had ruined her education because she did not want to go to school in case she saw him.

The pensioner denied four charges of indecent assault between 1995 and 2004.

Prosecutor Jenny Tallentire said at the start of the trial: "The victim says the assaults started when she was about six and he was about 60.

"She can recall four specific incidents, but says these were not the only times he sexually abused her."

In evidence by video link, the girl told the court she had to have counselling and was afraid to go outside on her own.

"Eventually, I did not want to leave the house and I became depressed. I was upset and crying all the time and realised I had to tell my mum because this was the cause of the depression," she said.

"This man caused me so much upset."

But Mr James told the jury the allegations were totally untrue and he had not molested the girl in any way.