Man is cleared of sex assault charge
A STOWMARKET man has been cleared of sexually assaulting a schoolgirl.
Steven Lamb, 42, of Combs Wood Drive, had denied the offence and on Monday was found not guilty by a jury at Ipswich Crown Court.
The jury was discharged after failing to reach a verdict on a second allegation of sexual assault involving a second girl.
A decision is due to be made next week on whether there should be a retrial on that charge.
During Lamb’s trial the prosecution alleged that more than five years ago he indecently touched two girls, both aged under 13 at the time.,
Prosecutor Samantha Leigh told the court that the girls had gone to police to make their allegations in 2010.
Lamb had pleaded not guilty to two offences of sexual assault involving two girls under the age of 13 between 2006 and 2007.
Giving evidence, the father of four, said that neither of the offences of which he had been accused had ever happened.
He believed that the allegations were prompted by a dispute over money which had been loaned to the girl’s mother by himself and his wife.
Defence barrister Greg Perrins said witnesses described Lamb as being a good friend, a kind neighbour and a family man. None could suggest any reason for the behaviour alleged by the two girls.
The mother of the girls told the court that Lamb and his wife had given her money to pay for a breast enlargement operation and had initially said she did not have to repay the £3,500.
Later the couple asked for their money back and instituted legal proceedings to recover the money. The woman denied she had used her daughters to make false allegations against Lamb. She had said there was ‘no doubt’ that the girls were telling the truth.
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Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Sunday 19 May 2013
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