A 21-year-old man has been cleared of molesting a 17-year-old girl in her own bed and later threatening her.

Anthony Paul was found not guilty of sexual assault and witness intimidation by a Burnley Crown Court jury, after a four-day trial.

The defendant, of Marsden Hall Road, Nelson, who denied the charges against him, was discharged from the dock by Judge Edward Slinger.

The teenager, now 18, had claimed the defendant went into her bedroom, sat on her bed and told her he loved her.

She had alleged he then stroked her thigh and her face and fondled her under the duvet.

The alleged victim, who had claimed the defendant had insisted she not tell his girlfriend or he would kill himself, said she had been scared.

She told the jury that three months later she had been walking down the street when Paul abused her and threatened that after the case he would rape her.

The defendant told the jury he did not touch the girl in any way whatsoever.

He said she had come on to him, confessed she had feelings for him and asked him to stay the night. He said she would not let him leave.

Paul said he had been shocked and had rung his girlfriend to tell her what happened.

He said he had not abused the girl, but she had caused trouble for him whenever he had seen her and he had called the police.