Britain’s Got Talent driving teacher cleared of sex assault

♦ A driving instructor who appeared on Britain’s Got Talent has been cleared of sexually assaulting a shop assistant.

The 23-year-old woman told magistrates that her “stomach turned” when John Gough, 76, reached forward to touch her in full view of other customers and staff as he paid for petrol at the Gloucester store.

Mr Gough, of Gloucester, accepted that his actions amounted to a common assault but denied a charge of sexual assault on the woman in November last year. Andrew Tabor, court chairman at Cheltenham magistrates’ court, said: “We are satisfied he did indeed touch her to reveal her tattoo. That action could be perceived to be sexual, but we are not convinced that the purpose was sexual.”

Mr Gough appeared on Britain’s Got Talent in May last year and set a world record by reciting the alphabet backwards in four seconds. The court found him not guilty of sexual assault.