A former Dover Castle female supervisor has been cleared of groping a young male colleague.

Mum-of-two Allison Hood, 50, had denied the sex claims made by the youngster.

She has been accused of “squeezing his pecs” in a sexual manner and telling the shocked boy: “Nice boobs!

But the jury at Canterbury Crown Court took just 30 minutes before returning a NOT guilty verdict.

Hood, of Heathfield Avenue, Dover, broke down and wept as the verdict was announced and was comforted by her husband and family.

Earlier she had told the court: "I never fancied him and I never touched him inappropriately!"

She added that the only time she would have touched him was “lightly on the shoulder” if she was carrying a tray of crockery.

“I did not have a crush on him but I did ask him if he had a girlfriend but that was part of a conversation to make him feel welcome and part of the team.”

The youngster had claimed that after asking the girlfriend question, Mrs Hood told him: “You wouldn’t know where to put it without a manual!”

But the supervisor, who worked at the castle with her husband, son and daughter and their then partners, denied making the remark.

She revealed how she had reprimanded him for the manner he had addressed another member of staff, and claimed the sex allegation was “a tit for tat scenario”.

Mrs Hood told how the youngster - who was 30 years her junior - had sulked after the telling off and described him as “somewhat naive and a bit cocky, arrogant and someone who wanted to be the centre of attention - an attention seeker”.

Chatham-born Hood, who had denied the sexual assault charge, told the jury she now works as a catering supervisor at Port Lympne animal park.