Australian actress Maggie Kirkpatrick breaks down in court as she’s cleared of abusing girl

Actress Maggie Kirkpatrick broke down in tears as a judge overturned abuse charges against her.

The TV star, 74, who was known for her role in Australian series Prisoner: Cell Block H, has been cleared of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl back in 1984.

Back in August, Ms Kirkpatrick was convicted at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on two counts of indecently assaulting the girl and one of gross indecency.

She was sentenced to community service, placed on the sex offenders register and ordered to undergo rehabilitation assessment.

During her appeal on Tuesday, Judge Geoffrey Chettle said that the accusations ‘could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt.”

Ms Kirkpatrick broke down in tears when the decision was announced and later spoke outside the court.

She thanked her legal team, family and “the hundreds of fans and members of the acting fraternity who have stood by me for the last two years".

"It's been rather difficult, but I am very happy with the result."

Ms Kirkpatrick was known for playing a sadistic prison guard in the Australian series and later appeared on Home and Away.