A RETIRED senior magistrate from North Yorkshire has been cleared of repeatedly sexually abusing a young girl more than 20 years ago.

Barry Sampson, 74, a former chairman of the Tadcaster and Selby benches, was accused of forcing the girl to perform sex acts on him and of committing other intrusive sexual assaults, from 1976 to 1982, when the girl was aged between 12 and 17.

But a jury at York Crown Court yesterday acquitted Mr Sampson, of Smaws Hamlet, Leeds Road, Tadcaster, of six counts of gross indecency, eight of indecent assault and one of cruelty to a child.

Mr Sampson, a farmer, initially faced 25 charges but was earlier found not guilty of committing six indecent assaults and three acts of gross indecency on Judge Jim Spencer's directions, due to a lack of evidence.

Two of the alleged indecent assaults were merged into one offence, as the incidents were alleged to have happened at the same time.

As he walked from the dock, Mr Sampson, a father of three, thanked the jury.

He later told the Evening Press he was "overwhelmed".

"I'm delighted" he said. "It's been a very difficult time and although I've tried to carry on as best I can, it's always been in the back of my mind.

"I've tried to do my best all my life."

He became chairman of the Tadcaster bench in 1972. He became chairman of the Selby court when it was created in 1974, continuing until his retirement in 1989.

He said he had found the trial difficult after being such a well-respected member of the community.

His partner, Ruth Weatherill, 53, said the last eight months had been "hell on earth".

She said: "I've known he was innocent from the start but I couldn't do anything, I've felt helpless.

"He's one of the nicest men that ever walked this earth, he's a real gentleman."

Updated: 09:20 Saturday, April 17, 2004