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| Ex-Dragons' Den star cleared of child sex offences | Ex-Dragons' Den star cleared of child sex offences |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former star of Dragon's Den Doug Richard has been found not guilty of child sex offences. | Former star of Dragon's Den Doug Richard has been found not guilty of child sex offences. |
| Mr Richard, 57 contacted a 13-year-old girl through a "sugar daddy" website. | |
| He admitted having sex with the girl but told the court he believed she was 17. | He admitted having sex with the girl but told the court he believed she was 17. |
| He was cleared of sexual activity with a child, causing a child to engage in sexual activity and paying for sexual services. | He was cleared of sexual activity with a child, causing a child to engage in sexual activity and paying for sexual services. |
| He exchanged messages with the 13-year-old after meeting her on the Seeking Arrangements website and went on to act out his fantasies when she travelled from her home in Norwich to London to meet him. | |
| The American businessman, who once advised Prime Minister David Cameron, told jurors that at the time he believed she was an experienced 17-year-old and insisted he would never "knowingly" have sex with a child. | The American businessman, who once advised Prime Minister David Cameron, told jurors that at the time he believed she was an experienced 17-year-old and insisted he would never "knowingly" have sex with a child. |
| The court heard he gave the girl and a friend who accompanied her £60 each in cash, which Richard says was a "gift" and not payment for sex. | The court heard he gave the girl and a friend who accompanied her £60 each in cash, which Richard says was a "gift" and not payment for sex. |
| The court also heard that he made two £120 deposits into PayPal accounts to cover their travel expenses and pre-booked an apartment in London. | The court also heard that he made two £120 deposits into PayPal accounts to cover their travel expenses and pre-booked an apartment in London. |
| The jury was sent out at 11:00 GMT and took under four hours to reach a verdict. | The jury was sent out at 11:00 GMT and took under four hours to reach a verdict. |