THE owner of a pet business near Wisbech was today cleared of claims that he groped a 16-year-old girl’s breast.

Alan Baldry, 52, lives at the family business Mill Lane Pet Centre, in Leverington, with his wife Cindy.

He had denied the sexual assault, which was alleged to have happened in his shop on 20 November last year.

The alleged victim told Cambridge Crown Court that Mr Baldry came up behind her and put his hand down the front of her top, inside her bra and groped her breast.

She told a friend that day, but didn’t tell her mother. Police were notified when she was overheard talking about it at school a few days later.

Mr Baldry told police when arrested he was “bewildered” by the accusation and didn’t know why the girl should have made it up.

Giving evidence, he categorically denied that he had touched her.