A MAN has asked to be allowed to rebuild his life after being cleared of sexually abusing two young girls.

Retired crofter Graham Gadd says the windows of his Griffin Close home in Burnley were smashed after it was revealed that he was on trial for indecently assaulting the youngsters over a 10-year period.

A jury at Preston Crown Court remained deadlocked over the allegations, which Mr Gadd denied, in February, following a six-day hearing.

When he returned to court on Monday, it was announced that the seven indecent assault charges he faced had been dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Not guilty verdicts were entered by Judge Heather Lloyd following a brief hearing at Preston's Sessions House court.

Mr Gadd, 58, has still admitted a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice, in relation to the case, and will return to court for sentencing on April 28.

He said: "Since it was first put in the paper about the trial I have had the windows of my house smashed.

"Now I just want people to know I have been cleared of all of the allegations so I can get on with my life."

Married Mr Gadd, who has a pacemaker fitted, says that the allegations were "ridiculous" and without foundation.

The charges he faced dated back more than 30 years, covering a period between the late 60s and early 70s.

He was accused of molesting one of the girls when she asked him for money to buy sweets, the earlier trial was told.

The alleged victims brought the matters to the attention of police in 2006.

But Mr Gadd insisted, in court, that he believed someone had "put them up" to making the claims.

In his police interview he denied having indecently assaulted either of the girls and said the allegations were a complete fabrication.