Ex-US Air Force pilot acquitted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl who got lost during a trip to London

A former US Air Force pilot has been cleared of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl after approaching her outside Harrods in London.

Robert Prussak, 57, approached the girl after being separated from her family during a trip from France on April 22.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was standing outside the department store in Knightsbridge, during a trial at Isleworth Crown Court, when Mr Prussak tried to help her.

He then walked her to his flat and was accused of giving her bitter-tasting water allegedly containing the antihistamine Benadryl, which made her feel tired, the court was told.

It was alleged that the pilot, of no fixed address, then took the girl to Hyde Park and sexually assaulted her.

Mr Prussak was arrested later the same day after he and the girl were spotted passing by the Israeli embassy by a Metropolitan Police officer, who was informed she was missing.

He was searched and said, “I was just trying to help her,” said Sergeant Edward Lucas.

Mr Pruissak denied all charges against him and a jury today found him not guilty.

Judge Edward Connell told Mr Prussak, who ended up in the dock when he was acquitted, that he was free to go.

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Jurors had asked whether there was any DNA evidence of the assault just over an hour after they began deliberating yesterday, and Judge Connell said there was not.

He was found not guilty of three charges of sexual assault on a child under the age of thirteen.

He was also acquitted of one charge of kidnapping, one charge of committing an indictable offence, namely kidnapping with intent to commit a sexual offence, and one charge of administering a drug with intent.