A FORMER care worker accused of having sex with a 15-year-old resident of the Somerset care home for disturbed children where he worked has been acquitted.

Andrew Caulfield, 43, had pleaded not guilty to eight charges of sexual activity with a child between March 25 and October 29 last year.

Last Thursday a jury took just two hours to unanimously clear the former night manager of all the allegations following a four-day trial at Taunton Crown Court.

Mr Caulfield had spent almost eight months in custody pending the hearing after the teenaged girl disclosed the full details of an alleged relationship to the police.

The court, which ruled that the care home could not be identified, had been told that suspicions were raised amongst staff after Mr Caulfield began taking the girl out in his van for long periods and going into her room at night.

He appeared to be in regular telephone and text contact with her, contrary to the home's code of conduct.

Police investigations of his mobile phone revealed he had contacted her more than 1,000 times over a two-month period between June and August last year.

It was claimed that Mr Caulfield had first engaged in sexual activity while the girl was in hospital but he said that would have been impossible because she was under observation and her bed had been next to a walkway.

He told the court that he had thought the first text he received from her was a "wind-up" but admitted that he should not have replied to it.

He said he spent time talking to all the children at the home, especially if they were upset, and took them out in his van.

The girl had been in his van about three times but he denied having sex with her there and in his room.

He also denied having sex with her in his house.

During the trial the jury heard that the girl had told police Mr Caulfield did not have any distinguishing marks on his body.

But he showed the court a large tattoo on his arm and a scar on his leg.