A MAN accused of sex offences against a teenage girl, has walked free from court after being cleared of the allegations.

Ian Sharman, 39, of Alford Road, High Wycombe, stood trial for four offences alleging that between May 1, 1999, and January 31, last year, he had unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl aged under 16.

He was further charged with one count of indecently assaulting the girl between the same dates, Aylesbury Crown Court heard on Thursday.

Mr Sharman denied all the charges and claimed that he had been the victim of lies and rumours started by the girl.

Mr Sharman and defence witnesses also said at the trial that he was in a romantic relationship with a 32-year-old woman who regularly stayed at his home at the time he was accused of committing the offences.

Kim Halsall, defending, said the girl admitted she ran away from home and was out of control.

She added that the girl, from another part of Bucks, had been very unhappy.

She told the trial that Mr Sharman felt sorry for the girl but at no stage ever behaved improperly.

A jury of seven men and five women found him not guilty of the four offences of having unlawful intercourse with the girl but failed to reach a verdict on the indecent assault charge.

Judge Terence Maher entered a not guilty verdict and awarded Mr Sharman his defence costs after prosecutor Kate Mallison offered no further evidence.