A BOLTON man has been cleared of six sex abuse allegations involving a young girl in the Preston area.

But Stuart Tracey still faces the possibility of a re-trial after a jury failed to reach a verdict on a further charge of indecent assault.

Tracey, aged 55, of Centre Gardens, Halliwell, was cleared of five charges of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child at the end of a Preston Crown Court trial. The judge gave the Crown Prosecution Service seven days to decide whether to prosecute again over the indecent assault charge. Tracey was remanded on bail.

It was claimed that he had molested the child while she was under 10 years of age and that years later she came face to face with him at a drinks party.

The offences were alleged to have been committed in the Preston area.

But the defendant insisted that the accusations made against him were complete fabrication.

In the end, a judge discharged the jury from returning a verdict on the one remaining charge.