American pilot cleared of kidnapping girl, 9, outside Harrods

A former US Air Force pilot accused of kidnapping a nine-year-old girl outside Harrods and then sexually assaulting her has been found not guilty.

Robert Prussak approached the girl at the central London department store when she became separated from her family during a trip from France on 22 April.

He then walked her to his flat, and was accused of giving her bitter-tasting water allegedly containing the antihistamine Benadryl, which left her tired, the court had heard.

The 57-year-old, of no fixed address, was cleared of the offences at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday.

It was alleged that the pilot took the girl from the flat to Hyde Park and sexually assaulted her.

Mr Prussak was arrested later on the same day after he and the girl were spotted walking past the Israeli embassy by a Metropolitan Police officer who had been informed she was missing.

He was searched and said, “I was just trying to help her out”, according to Sgt Edward Lucas.

Mr Prussak had denied all the charges against him.

Judge Edward Connell told Mr Prussak, who broke down in the dock as he was acquitted, that he was free to go.

Jurors had asked if there was any DNA evidence of the sexual assault just over an hour after they started deliberating on Monday, and the judge said there was not.

Mr Prussak was found not guilty of three counts of sexual assault of a child under the age of 13.

He was also cleared of 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.

On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police arrested a 57-year-old man at Isleworth Crown Court on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children.

He was taken to a police station and remains in custody.