Ilminster man cleared of sex offences (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Ilminster man cleared of sex offences

6:30am Friday 3rd February 2012 in News

AN ILMINSTER man has been cleared of sex offences allegedly carried out at a Bridport holiday camp.

Marcus Morrison, 42, of The Mead, denied two charges of sexual assault and one of assault by beating, alleged to have taken place in April last year at the Parkdean holiday park.

A jury at Dorchester Crown Court retired for an hour on Wednesday to deliberate at the end of a three-day trial and returned a verdict of not guilty on all three counts.

Earlier in the week, the jury heard from two alleged female victims.

One, who was on holiday with her family, said Mr Morrison had held her and tried to kiss her. Another said the defendant had hugged her, squeezing her buttocks and breast.

Mr Morrison told the jury that he was drunk at the time of the alleged offence and any touching had been accidental.

“I cannot remember if I touched them,” he said. “I was dancing with a lot of people that evening. If I did touch them it was accidental and transient, and I apologise.”

Mr Morrison was also accused of assaulting Christopher Grant, a security guard at the holiday camp, while he was being restrained.

He said that Mr Grant had been ‘heavy-handed’ in handling him and he acted in self-defence.

Judge Jarvis addressed the jury before it retired. He said: “You must decide if the touching was intentional and if it was sexual in nature. A drunken intent is still intent.”

And he added: “You must also decide if the defendant reasonably believed he had to use force to defend himself when he was being restrained by Mr Grant.”