A MAN accused of a number of sex crimes against young girls in Barrow has been found not guilty on five charges after a trial.

John Roberts, now of Ridgway Court in Axminster, Devon, was found not guilty on three counts of indecent assault on girls under 16, one count of gross indecent assault on a girl under 16 and one count of gross indecent assault on a girl under 14, Preston Crown Court was told.

The 59-year-old was on trial after it was alleged that he had committed a string of sex offences between 1995 and 2001 involving a number of girls aged under 16 - all of which he had denied.

Earlier in the trial the jury heard accounts from the complainants and watched on as Mr Roberts was questioned by the prosecution and defence counsel.

Following the five not guilty verdicts, the jury was dismissed by the judge and there will be a court sitting on January 18 where a decision will be made as to whether or not the trial should continue.

There are still a number of alleged offences for which no verdict has been reached.