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A MAN accused of raping a child has been cleared after a jury took just 10 minutes to reach a verdict.
Now his legal team have called for defendants of such charges to be granted anonymity until they are found guilty.
Jonathon Brown always strenuously denied preying on the girl during the trial at Bolton Crown Court, which lasted for eight days.
The jury returned not guilty verdicts on eight counts of raping a child, four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a child to watch a sexual act.
On Monday, the jury had been instructed to return not guilty verdicts on a further two counts of raping the child and one of sexual assault.
After the hearing, a spokesman for Mr Brown’s legal team said his life had been “turned upside down” since the allegations were made.
The spokesman said: “On day three of an eight-day trial the child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, gave conflicting and nonsensical accounts about the allegations to the jury.
"This calls into question once again the ramifications of the accused being named before the verdict is announced.
“Mr Brown and his family have been through hell and despite this verdict, the ‘stain’ of being accused of a sexual offence will remain with him for the rest of his life.
“There is a specific stigma associated with sexual allegations that never leave the accused, even when acquitted.
“Mr Brown has been dragged through the court system, had threats made against him and has been beaten up."
Mr Brown, aged 31, of Church Road, Smithills, was accused of making the girl watch pornographic films before raping and sexually assaulting her.
But under examination by Saul Brody, who was defending Mr Brown, he denied ever committing any of the offences alleged.
Mr Brody said: "Did you ever talk to the child about men and women having sex?"
Mr Brown replied: "I would never say anything about sexual matters or anything to do with that sort of stuff."
Mr Brody also asked Mr Brown if he repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted the girl.
Mr Brown said: "It never happened."
Asked if he forced the young girl to perform sex acts on him, Mr Brown said: "It is all lies, every single bit of it, all lies. Every single bit of this is lies."
Now his legal team have called for defendants of such charges to be granted anonymity until they are found guilty.
Jonathon Brown always strenuously denied preying on the girl during the trial at Bolton Crown Court, which lasted for eight days.
The jury returned not guilty verdicts on eight counts of raping a child, four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a child to watch a sexual act.
On Monday, the jury had been instructed to return not guilty verdicts on a further two counts of raping the child and one of sexual assault.
After the hearing, a spokesman for Mr Brown’s legal team said his life had been “turned upside down” since the allegations were made.
The spokesman said: “On day three of an eight-day trial the child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, gave conflicting and nonsensical accounts about the allegations to the jury.
"This calls into question once again the ramifications of the accused being named before the verdict is announced.
“Mr Brown and his family have been through hell and despite this verdict, the ‘stain’ of being accused of a sexual offence will remain with him for the rest of his life.
“There is a specific stigma associated with sexual allegations that never leave the accused, even when acquitted.
“Mr Brown has been dragged through the court system, had threats made against him and has been beaten up."
Mr Brown, aged 31, of Church Road, Smithills, was accused of making the girl watch pornographic films before raping and sexually assaulting her.
But under examination by Saul Brody, who was defending Mr Brown, he denied ever committing any of the offences alleged.
Mr Brody said: "Did you ever talk to the child about men and women having sex?"
Mr Brown replied: "I would never say anything about sexual matters or anything to do with that sort of stuff."
Mr Brody also asked Mr Brown if he repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted the girl.
Mr Brown said: "It never happened."
Asked if he forced the young girl to perform sex acts on him, Mr Brown said: "It is all lies, every single bit of it, all lies. Every single bit of this is lies."
