Cleared of kidnap and sex assault-but now man may face re-trial (From Milford Mercury)

Cleared of kidnap and sex assault-but now man may face re-trial

10:14am Thursday 16th July 2009

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A Milford Haven man has been cleared of kidnapping a woman at knifepoint as she left work in the centre of Haverfordwest. Christopher Fee, aged 45, was also found not guilty of sexually assaulting her.

But the jury at Swansea crown court was unable to reach verdicts on two further charges of sexual assault and Fee will be told this week whether he will have to be re-tried.

Stephen Rees, prosecuting, was granted seven days by Judge Christopher Morton to decide if the Crown Prosecution Service would seek a re-trial on the two outstanding charges.

Meanwhile, Fee was bailed to his mother’s home in Hilton House, on the Mount Estate.

The jury had heard allegations that Fee had told the woman he had noticed her entry on Facebook, the internet website, and that he had seen a message which led him to believe she was in a relationship with a man.

The woman claimed Fee had driven her to his then home in the village of Spittal, where, she alleged, he stripped her naked and sexually assaulted her.

Fee said she had gone with him willingly and had consented to sexual contact. But she suddenly asked him to stop and he did so.

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