Former pilot is cleared of kidnap and assault of girl in London

A former US air force pilot has been cleared of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl during her family holiday to London earlier this year.

- Kevin Rawlinson

Robert Prussak approached the girl after she became separated from her family near Harrods.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was standing outside the store in Knightsbridge in London when Prussak saw her, a trial at Isleworth crown court heard.

Prussak said he had tried to help her find her parents because that was what he would have wanted someone to do for his daughters.

Prosecutors said he walked with her to his flat and gave her bitter-tasting water they said contained the antihistamine Benadryl, which left her tired. It was alleged that Prussak then took the girl to Hyde Park and sexually assaulted her.

The girl's urine included diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl, but the court heard it was not detected in the glass Prussak used to give her a drink. There was also no DNA evidence of an assault.