A FORMER pub landlord walked free from court after being cleared of molesting a 17-year-old girl.

Charles Cartwright, 43, who now lives in Spain, was alleged to have groped the teenager while he was the licensee of the Beaumont Arms in Church Lane, Kirk- heaton.

The girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had alleged he had put his arms round her in a bear hug so that his hands were touching her breasts.

She said he told her she had a nice body and when she tried to leave he grabbed her arms and put his hand towards the zip of her trousers.

Cartwright had denied the charge of indecent assault and after legal submissions at the end of the prosecution case Judge Roger Ibbotson yesterday directed the jury at Bradford Crown Court to find him not guilty.

At a previous trial this year another jury had failed to reach a verdict.

Cartwright's barrister, John Elvidge, had argued that the evidence against his client was tenuous and inconsistent.

When Cartwright was questioned by police about the allegation he denied that any such incident had taken place.

Judge Ibbotson made a defence costs order in respect of Cartwright's expenses for having to travel back from Spain for his trial.