A ballet teacher accused of sexually assaulting teenage pupils has been acquitted of all charges.

Jonathan Barton, 41, faced eight charges against eight different women during a trial at Dumbarton Sheriff Court.

Six of the charges alleged sexual assault by touching during ballet classes.

Two alleged “abuse of position of trust” relating to sexual relationships. Barton said he had sex with both girls but insisted they were over the age of 18.

The charges ranged from 2004 until 2019.

Barton, of Argyll, denied the allegations and the jury was shown videos of other ballet teachers touching pupils in areas including their thighs.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

On Wednesday, Barton was found not guilty of all six allegations of sexual assault by touching after a two-and-a-half-week trial.

He was found not guilty of one charge of abusing a position of trust and not proven on the other.

Sheriff William Gallacher told him: “You are free to go.”

Related posts:

‘We all miss you’, Eugenie says in touching Instagram tribute to Prince Philip COVID-19: When green, amber and red list decisions don’t match the data Green light for New Year’s Eve parties – as rise in hospitalisations looms over celebrations ‘I became the devil’: Trauma of woman wrongly suspected of murdering an entire family ‘It was most likely to fail’: Ex-head of COVID jabs rollout reveals fears about securing vaccine England fans fear ‘ITV curse’ ahead of crucial World Cup clash with Senegal Who is Lady Susan Hussey and what is a lady in waiting? ‘They should have been looking’: Timeline of Cardiff crash so far as police admit day’s delay Nick Kyrgios withdraws from Wimbledon with wrist injury Orkney Islands to consider break from UK Celtic fans defy club and display thousands of Palestinian flags at match Man arrested after number of connected incidents in Clapham – including stabbing of Uber driver