AN Ilford truck driver has had his named cleared after being accused of repeatedly raping and molesting a girl.

Michael Chambers, 61, of Empress Avenue, Ilford, was cleared of a string of rape and sexual assault charges by a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court after a previous jury was dismissed and a retrial was ordered.

Mr Chambers was accused of regularly sexually assaulting his alleged victim when she was aged 11 to 23, but the first trial collapsed after prosecutors failed to indict Mr Chambers for alleged offences against the woman when she was over 16.

Mr Chambers at first denied having sex with the woman, who is now 45, but later admitted to a 'consensual affair' with her when she reached 16.

Chambers was cleared of two counts of indecency with a child, two counts of rape, two counts of buggery, two counts of indecent assault and two counts of actual bodily harm.