Hospital runaway, 33, cleared of child sex offences

George King
BBC News, Suffolk
Suffolk Police A mugshot of Daryl TaylorSuffolk Police
Daryl Taylor, 33, from Ipswich, was found not guilty of six child sex offences

A man who fled a hospital while in police custody was found not guilty of multiple child sex offences by a jury.

Daryl Taylor, 33, from Ipswich, Suffolk, stood trial at Ipswich Crown Court having been arrested in Rendlesham, Suffolk, in August.

He was cleared of two counts of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and 15 and four counts of assault of a girl under 13 by touching.

Mr Taylor previously admitted escaping from lawful custody after absconding Ipswich Hospital while under arrest on 11 August. He will be sentenced for that offence on 28 March.

'Strongly denied'

Jurors at Ipswich Crown Court had been told the alleged incidents involving three girls took place in Ipswich between the summer of 2020 and August 2021.

Suffolk Police received reports of the incidents in 2023 before eventually arresting Mr Taylor.

But Mr Taylor "strongly denied" the claims and told police while being interviewed that he "never did anything inappropriate" and "did not touch them sexually".

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