Mitchell Purvis not guilty on all counts after child sex abuse trial

Prosecutors at Oxford Crown Court had claimed that Mitchell Purvis regularly abused his child victim on numerous occasions during the 1980s in Didcot.

From the witness box the woman - who cannot be named for legal reasons - said she thought the sex was 'normal' and she saw him as her 'boyfriend'.

Mr Purvis, 54, of Kynaston Road, Didcot, had always denied all 10 counts alleging indecent assault, sexual intercourse with a child and buggery.

Jurors were directed to find him not guilty of two indecent assault counts last week.

This morning, after just 50 minutes of deliberations the jury panel found him not guilty of the remaining counts by a unanimous verdict.

Mr Purvis had taken to the witness box during his trial last week to profess his innocence.

He told jurors he 'is no animal' and said that sexual activity had taken place with the woman but only after she was 16.

Asked how he felt when the allegations came to light he said: "I don't think I can describe it.

"It is somebody who I would still see as a friend, I was absolutely bomb-shelled, devastated.

"I just could not believe my ears, this just can't be true."

When asked if he ever sexually assaulted her he answered: "No, I am not a paedophile.

"I don't like children in that respect."

He was cleared of all counts.