Harlow man cleared of sexually abusing three young girls

Michael Smith, of Berecroft, had denied committing 11 offences of indecent or sexual assault, claiming the alleged victims had fabricated their allegations.

On the sixth day of the trial and after a 3-hour deliberation, the jury at Chelmsford Crown Court unanimously acquitted Mr Smith on all charges charges.

He had been found not guilty of one charge of indecent assault during the hearing on the formal direction of the judge. The offences were said to have occurred between 1991 and 2006.

Mr Smith wiped a tear from his eye as the foreman announced the panel's decisions. He was discharged by Judge David Turner QC.

He said that allegations by one of them might have set the ball rolling and the other two "jumped on the bandwagon".