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Barry Dodson, former Rotherham mayor, cleared of sex assault Barry Dodson, former Rotherham mayor, cleared of sex assault
(about 1 hour later)
The former mayor of Rotherham has been cleared of a sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. The former mayor of Rotherham has been cleared of a sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. The girl, now in her 40s, told Sheffield crown court that Barry Dodson indecently assaulted her in 1987.
The girl, who is now in her 40s, told Sheffield crown court that Barry Dodson indecently assaulted her in 1987. But Dodson, 67, denied that the incident ever happened and was cleared by a jury of five men and seven women after just over two hours of deliberating. Speaking outside the court, he said: “It’s been absolutely terrible, not just for me but for all my family.”
But Dodson, 67, denied the incident ever happened and was cleared by a jury of five men and seven women after just over two hours of deliberating. Dodson stepped down from his role as mayor in July last year after just three weeks in office. He did not stand for re-election to the council in June. Asked if he would want to stand for election again, and even become mayor once more, he said: “Watch this space.” And asked if the accusation had ruined his life, he said: “Of course it has, yes.”
Speaking outside the court, he said: “It’s been absolutely terrible, not just for me but for all my family.” Dodson’s solicitor, Steve Smith, said: “One thing they have not taken away from him is his character. He walks out of this court a free man and an innocent man. In Rotherham, the town and our people get a very bad press because of a very small minority. This is one case where at least we’ve tried to redress the balance. He can now walk with his head held high. We never doubted his innocence for one minute.”
Dodson stepped down from his role as mayor in July last year after just three weeks in office. He did not stand for re-election to the council in June. During a four-day trial, the complainant said Dodson assaulted her at Boston castle in Rotherham during a trip to scout out a wedding video location. The woman said she decided to come forward after she read that he had become mayor. She denied that she had a grudge against the former councillor.
Asked if he would want to stand for election again, and even become mayor once more, he said: “Watch this space.”
And asked if the accusation had ruined his life, he said: “Of course it has, yes.”
Dodson’s solicitor, Steve Smith, said: “One thing they have not taken away from him is his character. He walks out of this court a free man and an innocent man.
“In Rotherham, the town and our people get a very bad press because of a very small minority. This is one case where at least we’ve tried to redress the balance. He can now walk with his head held high. We never doubted his innocence for one minute.”
During a four-day trial, the complainant said Dodson assaulted her at Boston castle in Rotherham during a trip to scout out a wedding video location.
The woman said she decided to come forward after she read that he had become mayor. She denied that she had a grudge against the former councillor.
Dodson, of East Dene, told the jury the incident never happened and that he never went to Boston castle with the girl. He was cleared of one count of indecent assault.Dodson, of East Dene, told the jury the incident never happened and that he never went to Boston castle with the girl. He was cleared of one count of indecent assault.
Ch Sup Jason Harwin, district police commander for Rotherham, said: “We acknowledge and respect the verdict of the jury. A full and thorough investigation took place since the allegations were first made against Mr Dodson in June of last year and this was taken forward by the Crown Prosecution Service.Ch Sup Jason Harwin, district police commander for Rotherham, said: “We acknowledge and respect the verdict of the jury. A full and thorough investigation took place since the allegations were first made against Mr Dodson in June of last year and this was taken forward by the Crown Prosecution Service.
“I hope that today’s verdict will not prevent any victims of abuse from coming forward and speaking to police. Protecting people from harm is at the heart of our work and we will listen and do everything in our power to bring any victim of abuse the justice they deserve.”“I hope that today’s verdict will not prevent any victims of abuse from coming forward and speaking to police. Protecting people from harm is at the heart of our work and we will listen and do everything in our power to bring any victim of abuse the justice they deserve.”