A pensioner has been cleared of sexually abusing young girls several years ago.

Terence Hoare was alleged to have molested one girl while she was playing hide and seek with other children.

Prosecutor Paul Valder said she told a woman some years later and she then claimed Hoare had also sexually assaulted her when she was a child.

Another girl alleged Mr Hoare touched her indecently.

The matter was eventually reported to the police.

When arrested last year, Mr Hoare denied all the allegations.

The 68-year-old, of Ingoldsby Road, Gravesend, was acquitted at Maidstone Crown Court of two charges of indecent assault and two of assault by penetration.