Commuter cleared of Waterloo sex assault on famous actress blames CPS for 'bemusing' case

CCTV: The footage shows Mr Pearson and the alleged victim walking towards each other
Tom Marshall16 February 2016
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A commuter cleared of sexualy assaulting a famous actress at Waterloo station has criticised the CPS for pursuing the "bemusing" case.

Mark Pearson, 51, was accused of attacking the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as he made his way through the busy station.

But he was cleared after CCTV showed he passed her in no more than half a second and no physical contact was seen.

The artist and picture framer did not break his stride as he walked past his alleged victim, a total stranger to him.

Cleared: Mark Pearson said he went through a 'year of hell'
ITV

In the footage, Mr Pearson can be seen holding a newspaper in his left hand, the one he was alleged to have used in the assault, and clutching his bag with his right.

A jury at Blackfriars Crown Court took 90 minutes to clear Mr Pearson of the charge of "sexual assault by penetration".

There were no witnesses, no forensic evidence and the actress failed to pick out Mr Pearson in an identity parade after the alleged incident on December 3 2014.

Mr Pearson told the BBC on Tuesday the police "were as bemused as I was" and said he holds the Crown Prosecution Service responsible for taking the case to trial.

"They should have looked at the evidence and concluded, as everybody else did, that I could not have done it," he said.

"I haven't been given an apology. No explanation."

He said he cannot go on with his life without knowing why the case was brought against him.

Asked how he felt when he was acquitted, he told the BBC: "Relief but numb because I didn't understand why I had gone through that process.

"I still don't know why this has happened at all."

Mr Pearson said he has had therapy for anxiety, insomnia and nightmares as a result of the allegations.

He has written to the head of the CPS, Alison Saunders, requesting an interview but has not yet had a response.

A CPS spokesman said: "There was sufficient evidence for this case to proceed to court and progress to trial. We respect the decision of the jury."

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

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