A MAN accused of attempting to rape a girl aged under 13 has been cleared of all charges following a trial.

Ian Hammond, 44, of Spring Chase, Wivenhoe, faced seven counts of sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, two counts of assault by penetration and one count of attempted rape.

He denies the charges and was unanimously cleared by a jury following a four-day trial at Ipswich Crown Court.

Gareth Hughes, prosecuting, told the jury the girl had first confided in a school friend, telling him she had been sexually abused.

The court heard the school became involved in the matter, but a full investigation was not launched at that stage.

Mr Hughes said several years later, the girl made an online referral to see a therapist.

The court heard at her first meeting with the therapist, the girl said she had been sexually abused by Hammond.

Mr Hughes said: “In accordance with the therapist’s company policy and safeguarding policy, [the therapist] contacted the police about what she’d been told. She did that on the same day.”

The girl was contacted by the police and she gave a brief account, setting out the abuse she said she suffered.

The court heard she then gave a full account in a recorded interview with police officers.

In police interview, Hammond said he thought the girl might have had a crush on him.

He denied any sexual assault took place, adding although he hadn’t “pushed her away” he hadn’t “pulled her in.”