Cleveleys man Ian Drayton found not guilty of historic sexual offences at Preston Crown Court

A former nightclub doorman has been found not guilty of historic sex crimes involving a 10-year-old boy 30 years ago.

Ian Drayton, 52, was vindicated after a jury found him not guilty of six counts of sexual assault against the primary school pupil. The assaults were alleged to have taken place in Fleetwood between 1990 and 1991.

He had maintained his innocence since his arrest in 2020, pleading not guilty at earlier hearings, before the case went to trial at Preston Crown Court this week.

Drayton, of Wood Green Drive, Cleveleys, was accused of persuading the boy to commit obscene acts after inviting him out for several walks with his dog.

Preston Crown Court was told the youngster kept the claims a secret for three decades before finally making an official complaint to police in 2020.

Barrister Fiona McNeill, prosecuting, told Judge Andrew Jefferies that the boy, now aged 44, had been in his final year at primary school when Drayton, who was said to be around 18 at the time, allegedly assaulted him on four separate occasions.

It was claimed all four incidents happened at the same spot near to Fleetwood Golf Club on Princes Way. Drayton's accuser said he was handed £1 and told not to tell anyone what had happened.

At the conclusion of a three-day trial at Preston Crown Court, the jury found Ian Drayton not guilty on all six counts of alleged sexual assault.