The mother of an 18-year-old boy who was found not guilty of having sex with an 11-year-old girl, said she was "elated" the court case was finally over.

Both mother and sister of the teenager said the family had been waiting for more than a year for the conclusion of the trial and as the jury foreman read-out the ruling yesterday they were just relieved.

Her son, Mr. A, who was 16-years-old at the time of the alleged offence last year, was charged with having unlawful carnal knowledge of Miss X, who was then 11-years-old.

None of those involved in the Supreme Court case can be identified for legal reasons.

Yesterday, the acquitted boy's mother said: "I am just glad the truth came out. It's been a long hard journey and we are just elated at the result."

The teenager's defence lawyer Elizabeth Christopher echoed those emotions saying her client could now get back to work and furthering his education.

She said: "I am happy for my client. He has always maintained he hadn't done what was suggested. He is working and this is not what a young man who's pursuing his education needs."

The jury had heard that three boys, Mr. A, Mr. B who was aged 15 and Mr. C who was aged 13 at the time, all received oral sex and then had intercourse with Miss X, who is now 12, one after another.

Mr. B had already pleaded guilty in youth court following a deal arranged with his lawyer, which required him to take the stand in Mr. A's trial.

Mr. B told court that he heard Mr. A call the 12-year-old and that the events had all taken place at Mr. A's house.

Under cross examination by Ms Christopher, Mr. B admitted that he had not told Police about this matter until he sought a deal through his lawyer and that he had got into an argument with Mr. A on an unrelated matter since last May.

During the trial, the jury had also heard from Miss X who said she lived with her grandmother at the time and that Mr. A had called her to come over on the date in question.

She said that she had refused to give oral sex or intercourse with the boys, but despite her protests it happened anyway.

Miss X also told court she had a crush on Mr. A and Ms Christopher had suggested that Miss X only brought the case because her advances had been refused.

The girl denied this and when the defendant was on the stand he told the court how she had grabbed his shirt and it was him that pushed her away.

Mr. A said he had not participated in any of the sexual activities on May 5 and instead told Miss X that she was too young.

He said instead he had gone inside to play on his computer and yesterday in Supreme Court, he was found not guilty of having unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 14.