A former Bury St Edmunds man accused of sexually assaulting three schoolgirls more than two decades ago has been cleared by a jury.

Before Ipswich Crown Court was Stephen Grant, 60, of Stretham Road, Wilburton, Ely, who denied seven offences of indecent assault and three of indecency with a child in respect of one of the alleged victims between 1995 and 1999 when she was aged between eight and 12.

He also denied indecently assaulting another girl aged six or seven between 1989 and 1991 and attempted rape, indecency with a child and two offences of indecent assault on a third alleged victim between 1990 and 1996 when she was aged between five and ten.

He broke down in tears as the foreman of the jury returned the not guilty verdicts.

Giving evidence during his trial, Grant dismissed the allegations as “pure madness and fantasy” .

He denied having any sexual interest in the three girls who regularly visited his former home in Hodson Close, Bury St Edmunds in the 1990s.

The court heard that Grant lived alone and young children living in the area near him in Bury St Edmunds knew his door was always open.