A FORMER British ice dancer has been found not guilty of raping a young girl more than 20 years ago.

Philip Askew who coached in Bracknell, was accused of raping a child under 16 in his room at the YMCA in Slough, in 1995.

Mr Askew, who was 21 at the time, labelled the accusation as "an awful thing for any man to be accused of".

The 44-year-old from Nottingham told Reading Crown Court of how he was confronted by the accusers parents and that he was initially shocked by the allegation that he had sex with their daughter. 

At the time, the family chose not to take matters further. 

The jury heard that Mr Askew continued to work at Bracknell ice rink for up to 18 months after being confronted. 

Defence barrister Sarah Elliot QC had made a suggestion that the accuser had a 'crush' on Askew and said she had a drawing of him on her wall.

Mr Askew and his ex dance partner, Marika Humphries were once believed to be the next Torvil and Dean.