Derek Chartres.
A FORMER president of the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce has been cleared of a string of sex charges this afternoon (Wednesday).
Businessman Derek Chartres, 59, of Grove Close, Newport, had denied all the charges against him, including raping a girl under the age of 16, and was found not guilty following an eight-day trial at Portsmouth Crown Court.
His wife, Pearl Chartres, 51, of the same address, has also been cleared of aiding and abetting the rape of the girl, which was alleged to have happened between January 1982 and December 1984, and a further charge of indecent assault.
Mr Chartres was also cleared of one charge of committing indecent assault, one charge of committing gross indecency with a child under the age of 14.
The couple were also cleared of four joint charges of committing indecency with a child under the age of 14.
The jury went out to consider their verdict at 11am yesterday and returned this afternoon at about 3.45pm.
• Full report in the Friday, February 24, County Press.