Woman cleared of sex abuse charges

A jury has found a woman not guilty of seven charges of sexual activity with teenage girls but failed to reach verdicts on 10 further counts.

Kelly Bavister-Gandy, 26, of Sandown, Isle of Wight, stood trial at Portsmouth Crown Court accused of 17 charges of sexual abuse against a 13-year-old girl and two 14-year-olds.

The jury cleared her in relation to one of the 14-year-old girls but failed to reach agreement on charges involving the other two girls.

Judge Peter Henry adjourned the case until July 19 to allow the Crown Prosecution Service to decide whether it wanted to hold a re-trial on the outstanding 10 charges.

Bavister-Gandy was remanded in custody until the next hearing at the same court.

The trial was told that the defendant had engaged in extended consensual sexual relationships with the younger girl and with one of the 14-year-olds and had a "one-night stand" with the other victim.

The jury heard allegations that Bavister-Gandy kissed the girls, gave them lovebites, touched their breasts as well as took part in more intimate sexual contact.

The defendant told police in interview that she denied any sexual contact with the girls.