An 82-year-old motorist accused of accelerating off with a schoolgirl trapped on his bonnet has been found not guilty of dangerous driving.

Stanley Earl was accused of driving into teenager Emma Swain because he was furious she had blocked his driveway in Barrington Road.

The 18-year-old told Croydon Crown Court she was gradually dragged underneath the Mercedes after her feet became wedged underneath the bumper.

Miss Swain said she had somehow managed to slam her hands down on the bonnet to dislodge herself, before she careered into a nearby parked car when Mr Earl hit her a second time in the back of the legs.

But at Croydon Crown Court on Friday, October 14, Mr Earl was cleared by a jury of dangerous driving after a trial.

During the trial Jonathan Edwards, prosecuting, told the court Miss Swain suffered the horror ride after being offered a lift home by her Glenthorne High school friend Charlie Larkin, who had parked her Ford Fiesta in Mr Earl’s road early that morning.

When they reached the car they discovered a note had been left by Mr Earl bemoaning their irresponsible parking, which he said had blocked his driveway and stopped a delivery vehicle from accessing the street.

Miss Swain told the court that when she went to Mr Earl’s door to respond he opened it on a chain before slamming it in her face, opening it again fully and barging past her to his car.

The jury heard he threatened to damage their car if they parked it there again, before getting into his own vehicle as Miss Swain returned to her friends.

She told the court she waited for another car to go past before stepping into the road to get to the back seat of the Ford, before her friend warned her to move.

Miss Swain said: "As I turned to look at what was coming I saw headlights and was in shock and thought, 'that car's going to hit me'."

At Croydon Crown Court on Friday, October 14, Mr Earl was cleared by a jury of dangerous driving, following a trial.