Sexual abuse trial ends in 'stalemate' after jury fails to reach verdict

Nicholas West has been on trial at Bolton Crown Court this week after being accused of abusing the girl when she was aged between three and 12.

Now, after hearing nearly a week of evidence and spending nearly three days in deliberations, the jury has been discharged because they said they could not agree on a verdict.

Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy Clayson, had told the jury on Thursday that it could reach a majority verdict, in which at least 10 jurors out of 12 must agree, but this did not lead to a decision being reached.

A note from the foreman of the jury, read out in court by Judge Clayson, said: “The jury feels we have reached a stalemate, and we feel we have exhausted all evidence.

“We feel we cannot proceed to the majority required.”

Judge Clayson then told the jury: “I will discharge you from giving verdicts in this case, because you have sat on this case for about a week, and you have spent two days trying to reach a verdict to which you are all agreed.

“This does sometimes happen.

“One thing that has been obvious throughout is how much attention you have paid to this evidence and how seriously you have taken on your role as jurors.”

West, aged 58, of Elmwood Grove, Farnworth, denies 10 counts of indecent assault and four charges of committing gross indecency with a child.

During the trial, the court was told that the victim, now aged in her 20s, reported the alleged offences after driving to a police station in 2011.

Henry Blackshaw, prosecuting claimed West carried out the offences to "satisfy his twisted sexual needs", and that the child shaved her head as an infant because she "did not want to be a girl anymore".

However, in giving evidence, West told the court that he was shocked by the allegations, and that he had “no idea why she has done this”.

Mr Blackshaw said the crown will seek a re-trial, with a date being set for November 2.