Former US Air Force pilot cleared of charges of kidnapping and sexual assault of a 9-year-old girl who disappeared during a trip to London

A former US Air Force pilot has been cleared of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl after making contact with her outside Harrods department store in London.

Robert Prussak, 57, approached the girl after she was separated from her family while traveling from France on April 22.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was standing outside a department store in Knightsbridge – the hearing at Isleworth Crown Court heard – as Mr Prussak tried to help her.

He then went with her to his apartment and was accused of giving her bitter-tasting water allegedly containing the antihistamine Benadryl, which made her tired, the court heard.

It was alleged that a pilot of no fixed address took the girl to Hyde Park and sexually assaulted her.

Prussak was arrested later that day after a Metropolitan Police officer who had been informed of her disappearance spotted him and the girl walking past the Israeli embassy.

According to Sergeant Edward Lucas, he was searched and said: “I just wanted to help.”

Mr. Prussak has denied all charges against him, and today a jury found him not guilty.

Judge Edward Connell told Mr Prussak, who broke down in court after being acquitted, that he could leave.

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Just over an hour into deliberations, jurors asked if there was any DNA evidence of sexual assault, and Judge Connell said there was none.

He was found not guilty of three counts of sexual violence against a child under 13.

He was also cleared of one count of kidnapping, one count of committing the offense of kidnapping with intent to commit a sexual offense and one count of intentionally administering a substance.