A man from Lowestoft who was accused of sexually assaulting a teenager at a Boxing Day party has been cleared of all charges.

On Monday, John Booth appeared at Ipswich Crown Court where the barristers for the defence and prosecution delivered their closing speeches and the judge, Recorder Jeremy Benson KC, gave his final instructions to the jury.

Mr Booth, of Notley Road in Lowestoft, had denied three counts of sexual activity with a child, which relate to a Boxing Day party he attended in 2019, when he was 25 years old.

It was alleged that Mr Booth, who is now 30, had gone into a bedroom where the 15-year-old girl was charging her phone during a Boxing Day party in 2019.

He was accused of three counts of sexual activity with a child, it being alleged that he had put his hand up the girl’s top and tried to touch her breast, rubbed his groin against her and slapped her bottom twice.

Mr Booth had maintained that he went upstairs to use the toilet, and noticed the teenager in the bedroom.

He said that he stood in the doorway and suggested she join the party downstairs, but did not enter the room.

On Monday, the jury deliberated for two hours and 54 minutes before returning their verdict.

Recorder Benson accepted a majority verdict for each count, with the jury finding him not guilty of each charge.

When the verdict was delivered, Mr Booth buried his head in his hands, while tears were shed in the public gallery from those who had been supporting him during his trial.