Oswestry businessman cleared of groping girl, 15
An Oswestry businessman has been acquitted by a jury of groping a 15-year-old girl at a party.
Simon King, who runs Halcyon Furniture, was found not guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child following a trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court.
The incident was alleged to have happened at his farmhouse in Haughton, near Oswestry, on August 9, 2014.
The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the jury that the 47-year-old grabbed her bottom twice during the 1980s-themed fancy dress party.
The allegations came to light after the girl's mother discovered messages sent from King on her phone.
They were passed on to police and the businessman was subsequently arrested.
The jury were earlier told how King and the teenager also exchanged messages on social network Facebook with the businessman telling her she was "beautiful, smart and horribly illegal".
Judge Mr Recorder Stephen Thomas told King that he was "discharged" regarding the matters.
Mr Thomas thanked the jury for their deliberations and told them: "It is difficult in these situations to reach a decision. You can only decide by using the evidence that you have before you.
"The prosecution sets a high bar, and rightly so, and it is up to you to decide whether the evidence meets it."
King denied all the charges against him.
