A EX-SENIOR police analyst has been cleared of a total of six sex offences against children.

But Mark Dallison, 45, still faces a possible re-trial over two rapes and an offence of sexual activity with a child, all of which he denies.

After eight hours of deliberations at Burnley Crown Court, spread over two days, the jury found Dallison not guilty of two counts of rape against a girl, one count of rape against a boy and one count of sexual activity with a child.

The verdicts followed two further not guilty rulings of sexual activity with a female and one count of rape against a boy made on Thursday.

However the jury was discharged by Judge Beverley Lunt after declaring it was unable to decide verdicts on three remaining charges of rape against a boy, rape against a girl and sexual activity with a child.

Dallison, of Melville Avenue, Barnoldswick, now faces the prospect of a re-trial over the remaining alleged offences and is due to answer bail next month.

If a new trial goes ahead, it will be the third time the case has been put before the courts.

During the trial, prosecutor Nicholas Courtney told the jury the defendant, who worked for Lancashire Police analysing crime statistics and assessing community cohesion in the Pennine Division, fondled both children before he had sexual intercourse with them.

Neither alleged victim told anyone what was happening at the time.

Whilst giving evidence, Dallison, who told police when he was arrested that he was bisexual, also admitted to the court that he had been unfaithful to his wife with several men but that they were ‘sexual encounters’ rather than relationships.

Dallison is due to answer bail on October 23.