A JURY at Bolton Crown Court took less than 90 minutes to clear a man of raping and sexually abusing two young girls.

Geoffrey Worsnop had pleaded not guilty to three counts of raping a child under 13 and two counts of sexual activity with a child.

The court was told that the incidents involved girls aged nine and 13 and were said to have taken place at 63-year-old Worsnop’s home between 2008 and 2009.

But Worsnop, of Chorley Old Road, Bolton, claimed the younger girl, who he was accused of raping, was mischievous, disruptive and prone to telling lies.

“It is not true, I never touched her. It is just ridiculous, I feel sorry for her now,” Worsnop told the court whilst giving evidence.

Worsnop admitted kissing the older girl but said it part of a game, never in a bedroom and he stopped when she got older and did not like it.

“I have never gone too far and pecked her too hard or something like that — it’s always in front of other people,” he explained.

The jury believed him and as they read out unanimous not guilty verdicts on all five counts. Worsnop, standing in the dock, mouthed “thank you.”