A YORK father was overjoyed to be back home with his family today after a jury acquitted him of repeatedly attempting to rape an eight-year-old girl.

Steven Sellars, of Chapelfields, had hardly seen his new-born baby daughter Shauna since he was remanded in custody last summer on three charges of attempted rape.

His wife Sharon shouted for joy and wept as the three not guilty verdicts against Steven were pronounced at Leeds Crown Court yesterday. She had had to sit through two trials. Last November, a York jury failed to reach a verdict after a three day trial.

"It has been an absolute nightmare," said Mrs Sellars outside the courtroom. "His daughter was four weeks old when he was arrested and he's hardly seen her. Now he can be a proper father."

Speaking after returning to the couple's home in Bramham Road, Mr Sellars said: "It's absolutely fantastic. I can't believe it. It's still sinking in. The nightmare is all over." Mr Sellars, who changed his surname by deed poll from Fisher, maintained his innocence throughout, and went on hunger strike for 126 days while on remand.

At one stage he wrote to the Evening Press from his cell: "If I die in custody I die an innocent man, unlawfully locked up against my will. I swear on my life, my wife's life, my son's life and my daughter's life I am an innocent man."

During the trial at Leeds Crown Court, the jury of seven men and five women heard claims that Mr Sellars attempted to rape the girl while babysitting her and on two other occasions.

But he said in evidence he had never babysat the girl and had never acted improperly towards her.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.