BREAKING NEWS: Jury discharged in trial of James Prior
THE JURY in the case of the Littlehampton man accused of sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl has today (Friday, March 22) been discharged by the judge.
Judge Claudia Ackner told the jury at Chichester Crown Court that the case against James Prior, of Horsham Road West, could no longer continue for legal reasons.
The 22-year-old had been charged with sexual assault of a child under 13, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and touching a child under 13 in a sexual way – offences which were alleged to have happened at some point between January 2010 and September 2011.
He had also been charged with rape.
However, following the judge’s direction, the jury cleared Prior of the charge, on Wednesday.
No date has yet been fixed for a retrial.