A CLASSIC car enthusiast from Kennford has been cleared of sexually assaulting a young girl at his home and place of work.

Aubone Braddon was found not guilty of a total of 12 offences after a four-day trial at Exeter Crown Court.

He was cleared after he said the girl, who was aged eight to ten at the time, had made up allegations that he touched her and made her perform sexually explicit dances for him.

He said there had never been any sexual activity of any sort and he denied making her undress in front of him or dance while naked other than a hula skirt.

She told the jury in a video recorded police interview that he played the songs I’m too Sexy and Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini.

This was alleged to have happened in the room of a blind patient with severe learning difficulties at the care home in Exeter where he worked. He said the patient enjoyed being visited by the girl but nothing improper had taken place.

The girl also alleged Braddon exposed himself to her at a vintage car rally which he attended as a member of the Ford Anglia Owners Club.

Braddon, aged 54, of Shillingford Abbot, near Kennford, denied ten counts of sexual assault or causing or inciting sexual activity with a child and two of exposure.

He was found not guilty on all counts by the jury and discharged by Judge Timothy Rose.

Mr Jason Beal, prosecuting, said the girl made disclosures to a teacher at her school in Exeter after attending an NSPCC presentation.

She went on to tell the police he had put his hand down her pants, made her take off her clothes in front of him and dance in just a hula skirt.

Braddon said all the allegations were invented and untrue. He said he was shocked when he heard them.

He said: ‘She is a liar. She wanted the attention. She started down a road and could not go back.’