Ukip mayor hopeful cleared after sexual assault allegations against homeless man

The civil servant was acquitted, and said 'justice has prevailed'

Peter Lello was cleared of sexual assault (Peter Lello/Twitter)

A Ukip mayoral candidate who was charged with sexually assaulting a homeless Bulgarian man has been cleared.

Peter Lello, who was hoping to become mayor of Lewisham, was arrested on 15 May 2014 after an allegation of sexual assault on 2 May at an address in the south London district.

The news of Lello's arrest broke on 22 May, the day of the election.

At a hearing earlier this week at Woolwich Crown Court, the Crown Prosecution Service said it would offer no evidence and Lello was found not guilty of sexual assault.

"This has been an extremely difficult year but with the support from UKIP friends and colleagues justice has prevailed."

Ukip Greenwich & Lewisham Chairman Paul Oakley said: "Peter’s innocence was never doubted by those of us who know him."

After being charged, Lello was suspended from his job as underwriter at the Government’s Export Credits Guarantee Department.