A 44-YEAR-OLD man accused of raping, sexually abusing and attacking a teenage girl was discharged from court yesterday afternoon after a jury was unable to reach a verdict on the charges that he faced.
Dean James Plowman was alleged to have raped and assaulted the girl repeatedly over a three-year period and to have beaten her twice.
The girl said she had only reported the offences when she feared she might be pregnant by him.
Mr Plowman wept in court as he denied all the charges and said he had “no idea” why the girl was making the claims.
Following a trial lasting a week and more than ten hours of deliberation, the jury of eight men and four women failed to reach unanimous or majority verdicts on any of the charges and Mr Plowman was discharged from proceedings.
Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae was presiding.
