Man found not guilty of park sex offences

The alleged offences were said to have taken place in Houndwell Park in Southampton

A jury has found a man not guilty of four sexual offences against a 14-year-old girl in a city centre park, but was unable to reach verdicts on two further charges.

Nicholas Foreman, 43, of Christchurch, Dorset, was on trial at Winchester Crown Court facing two counts of rape and one of sexual assault, and three alternative charges of sexual activity with a child.

The alleged offences were said to have taken place in Houndwell Park, Southampton, on February 15.

After 17 hours of deliberations, the jury found Foreman not guilty of the sexual assault charge, the alternative charge of sexual activity with a child as well as the two charges of rape.

But they were unable to reach verdicts for the alternative charges of these two offences.

During the trial, the judge ordered the jury to find the defendant not guilty of a further rape charge and an alternative charge of sexual activity with a child, after the prosecution stated there was no case to answer on these two counts.

Charles Gabb, prosecuting, said the Crown Prosecution Service would consider whether it would seek a re-trial on the two charges which the jury had not reached verdicts.

The case was listed for a further hearing on 13 August and Foreman was remanded in custody until then.