A Spalding pensioner walked free from court today (Monday) after he was cleared of sex offences against three complainants.
Keith Amess, 77, had pleaded not guilty to eight sexual charges against the three complainants, who can not be named to protect their anonymity.
A jury at Lincoln Crown Court took just over an hour to find Mr Amess not guilty of six charges.
During the five day trial the jury were also directed to acquit Mr Amess of the two other counts.
Following the not guilty verdicts, the trial judge, Recorder Simon King, told Mr Amess he was now free to leave court.
“That is the end of the matter,” Recorder King explained to Mr Amess. “The jury have found you not guilty of every count.”
Giving evidence during the trial, Mr Amess said he was shocked when the allegations were made and insisted they were lies.
Speaking from the witness box Mr Amess said: “It completely knocked me over when these allegations came up.”
Mr Amess had denied one count of sexually assaulting a boy under 13, two charges of sexual activity with a teenage boy, two charges of inciting sexual activity with the same teenage boy, plus three counts of sexual assault on a female
The incidents were alleged to have taken place between June 30, 2023 and September 4, 2024.
“Nothing has happened to any of those children,” Mr Amess added. “There has been no touching of those children.”
Prosecution barrister Michael Masson put it to Mr Amess that the youngest complainant said he was touched by him.
Mr Amess replied: “No, no, no.”
Mr Masson then suggested to Mr Amess that he did not want to accept the touching.
“No, not at all,” Mr Amess replied again.
Mr Amess also denied a prosecution suggestion that he touched the teenage boy and tried to pull his trousers down.
“It’s complete rubbish,” Mr Amess said. “It’s been made up. I don’t know why.”
Mr Amess also denied any sexual touching of the female complainant.
“I have not touched her in any sexual way whatsoever,” Mr Amess stated. “This is all lies.”
Mr Amess, of Hampton Close, Spalding, denied all the charges.
