Ex-national newspaper boss Eddy Shah has been cleared of raping a schoolgirl at upmarket London hotels.

Two Kent defendants have also been acquitted of any part in the rape of the girl.

Shah, 69, of Chippenham, Wiltshire, denied raping the youngster on several occasions during the early 1990s when she was between 12 and 15.

An Old Bailey jury cleared him on six counts of raping a girl under 16.

Former escort Susan Davies, 53, of The Beeches, Swanley, was cleared of forcing the girl, now in her early 30s, to have threesomes with her and Shah.

Mr Shah claimed he met her twice in hotels with Davies, but never had sex with her.

Davies was found not guilty of aiding and abetting rape, indecent assault and cruelty to a person under 16.

A third defendant, businessman Anthony Pallant, 53, of Kings Hill, West Malling, was also cleared of raping the girl with the help of Davies. He was found not guilty of rape and indecent assault.