A CARE worker at an East Lancashire home has been cleared of sexually attacking a colleague at work.

Benedict Sanchez, 39, who is from the Philippines, was found not guilty of two counts of sexual assault after a three day trial at Burnley Crown Court.

He was discharged from the dock by judge Simon Newell after being cleared.

The defendant, formerly of Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors had denied the allegations against him and told the hearing nothing inappropriate had happened.

The alleged victim had claimed that the defendant had asked her for a hug and a kiss and then tried to kiss her properly as they tended a male resident at the home.

She had claimed he later kissed her neck from behind leaving her with red marks and pressed his body into hers.

The woman then went on to claim the defendant, whose wife worked the night shift at the same home, had unzipped her trousers and fondled her as she tried to wash and dress an elderly woman patient.

She said Sanchez had then put her onto the bed next to the woman and committed a sex act.

The jury heard, during her evidence, that the patient was laughing as she didn't know what was going on next to her 'half naked' on the bed.

Giving evidence Sanchez told the jury he had never been in trouble with the police before and had no criminal convi-ctions.

The father-of-two, whose wife is expecting another baby, said he had been in this country for three years.

Questioned by his barrister Richard Bennett the defendant said he had never sexually touched the alleged victim.

He said none of her allegations where true.

Asked by Mr Bennett: “Did you on any occasion kiss or sexually assault her?”

He replied: “No.”