THE jury trying the case of a computer engineer accused of child abuse failed to reach verdicts after deliberating for nearly five hours.

Judge Michael Mott gave the prosecution at Worcester Crown Court 14 days to decide whether to stage a retrial.

Geoffrey Geary, 56, of Worcester Road, Kidderminster, had denied rape of an 11-year-old girl in 1974, indecent assault, indecency with a child and buggery.

He told the jury he was stunned when he was arrested and the case had left him depressed and on medication.

His alleged victim, now in her 30s, sobbed as she gave evidence that she was molested by the defendant.

Geary, who had served in the army for 30 years, said he had no idea why she had made complaints about him.

On solicitor's advice, he declined to answer any questions put to him by police after his arrest last November. Judge Mott advised the jury not to draw any adverse conclusions from this.

Character witnesses said Geary was a man of honesty and integrity with time for people and good causes.

He insisted he had no propensity to commit such offences and said the accusations had left him "gobsmacked".

The judge granted him bail.