Retired milkman cleared of historic child sex allegations

Mr Alan Flynn (68) had pleaded not guilty to 11 charges relating to sexual activity with a child when he appeared at Burnley Crown Court.

It was alleged that Mr Flynn, of Bluebell Grove, Burnley, had been in a sexual relationship with a girl aged under 16 between 1996 and 1998.

A jury decided on Tuesday, by majority verdict, that Mr Flynn was not guilty, after deliberating for around six hours.

The trial, in front of Judge Jonathan Gibson, had heard opening statements from prosecuting barrister Mr David Temkin who told the jury that the complainant alleged she was in a consensual sexual relationship with the defendant between 1996 and 1998.

The complainant had made the allegations to police in 2013.

The prosecution had argued that sexual activity had taken place in various locations including a flat above a grocery shop in Padiham Road, Burnley, at a local stables, in the defendant’s milk van and in a hotel near to Ski Rossendale.

In her summing up, defence barrister Miss Kathryn Johnson said: “There are very real concerns about the complainant’s reliability, accuracy and honesty. Her evidence is lacking in many ways.”