Former American pilot found not guilty of abducting and sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl near Harrods.

A former United States Air Force pilot, Robert Prussak, found himself at the center of a shocking accusation: kidnapping and sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl. However, after a trial at Isleworth Crown Court, he has been cleared of all charges.

The incident occurred on April 22 when Prussak approached the young girl, who was separated from her family while visiting London from France. The girl, whose identity was kept confidential for legal reasons, was standing outside Harrods department store in Knightsbridge. According to the court, Prussak walked with her to his flat and allegedly gave her water laced with the antihistamine Benadryl, which made her feel drowsy.

It was claimed that Prussak then took the girl to Hyde Park and sexually assaulted her. However, he was arrested later that day when a Metropolitan Police officer spotted them near the Israeli embassy. The officer had been informed that the girl was missing and acted quickly to intervene.

During his arrest, Prussak told Sergeant Edward Lucas that he was simply trying to help the girl. Throughout the trial, he maintained his innocence and denied all charges against him. Finally, on Tuesday, a jury found him not guilty.

The judge, Edward Connell, informed Prussak that he was free to go and the relieved pilot broke down in the dock. During the trial, the jury had asked if there was any DNA evidence of the alleged sexual assault, to which the judge confirmed that there was none. As a result, Prussak was acquitted of all charges, including three counts of sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, one count of kidnapping, one count of committing an offence of kidnapping with an intent to commit a sexual offence, and one count of administering a substance with intent.

In other London news, the iconic London Eye has just achieved a rare feat that it has only done once before in 24 years. A developer has also made headlines for proposing to fit 56 people into a single London house, which has raised concerns about overcrowding. On a sadder note, a beloved London pie shop is closing its doors after serving the community for 116 years. For more updates and news from the capital, make sure to visit The Agency's London news hub.

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