A FORMER foster parent was yesterday cleared of indecent assault.

Derrick Hubbard, 58, had admitted groping a 24-year-old woman on four occasions while supplying her with cheap tobacco.

But he denied four charges of indecent assault, saying she had consented each time.

Mr Hubbard, known as the "baccy man", told Darlington magistrates that he had been comforting the woman, who cannot be identified, when he touched her breasts.

The father-of-three, who has cared for 54 foster children, said the woman had told him about her problems and the taunts she had received over her large chest.

Mr Hubbard said that he told her: "I'm a boob man. I said 'if you gave us a flash now, I would look'. She agreed and flashed them at me. She was bra-less."

On the other occasions, he said she had consented to him touching her.

Mr Hubbard, of Langdale Place, Newton Aycliffe, denied locking the woman in his kitchen, saying he only shut the door at her request.

Callum Terry, defending, said that to find Mr Hubbard guilty it had to be proved that the woman had not consented to being touched, and that he knew she was not consenting.

Mr Terry suggested the woman was consenting, but became upset at herself for allowing a 58-year-old man to touch her.

Magistrates described the woman's evidence as unconvincing and found Mr Hubbard not guilty on all charges.