A member of Gateshead's Orthodox Jewish community has been cleared of sexually abusing a teenage boy.

Jeremy Bernstein, 37, had been on trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

He was accused of touching the boy inappropriately and forcing him to carry out sex acts between December 1998 and December 2003.

Mr Bernstein, of Whitehall Road, had denied eight charges, including two counts of indecent assault with a male person, indecent assault with a male person of 13 years and indecent assault with a male person of 14 years.

A jury found him not guilty on all charges.

Following the verdict Jonathan Goldberg QC, who defended Mr Bernstein, said: "It was wholly understandable that the jury should bring in these unanimous verdicts of not guilty.

"The complainant was wholly uncorroborated and a number of inconsistencies were exposed in his evidence under cross-examination."

Mr Bernstein had previously won an award for his contribution to life in the local Orthodox community.