A SECOND jury has been unable to reach a verdict on a Calderstones care assistant accused of sexually abusing a schoolgirl.

Judge Raymond Bennett discharged the Burnley Crown Court panel, after at least 10 were unable to agree after six hours and 40 minutes of deliberations.

The Crown Prosecution Service will now decide whether Jonathon Heard, 45, will face another retrial. The judge said it would be most unusual for a man to be tried three times.

He went on: "I hope the CPS will exercise their discretion in the usual way. There isn't's a great deal of prospect of a third jury agreeing and the time comes to give up."

Heard, whose address the judge ordered should not be revealed was unconditionally bailed until the CPS makes its decision. He had denied three allegations of indecent assault and two of indecency with a child from the Accrington area.

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