A convicted rapist who was caught with a video of himself engaging in sex acts with young girls has been cleared of possessing a indecent video of a child with a view to it being distributed or shown.

Dean Desilva, 45, was convicted in 1993 of rape and other sex crimes against the 14 and 15-year-olds who feature in the film.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that after his release police raided his home on November 22 last year ,and the video was found stored under a kitchen unit.

He was charged with possessing an indecent video of a child but told police it was connected to the 1993 trial, which was at the Old Bailey.

He said it was to be used to prove his innocence.

But on further investigation, police officers discovered he had been convicted of attacking the girls and his appeal had been dismissed in 1995.

Roger Elsey, prosecuting, told the jury: "He would not be guilty if he had a legitimate reason to be in possession of the video.

"He said he had a legitimate reason as he intended to use the video to show he was innocent."

The jury accepted his claims that he had the video in a bid to prove his innocence and found him not guilty.

Desilva, who lived at Crookhall, Consett, County Durham, at the time of his arrest was cleared of possessing an indecent video of a child with a view to it being distributed or shown, and was conditionally discharged for 12 months for making the video.

Judge Richard Lowden told him: "I have formed the view that if the video was before the Old Bailey in 1993 you would receive a concurrent sentence.

"I don't think it would be right, in the light of the jury's verdict, to impose any prison sentence in relation to it today."