A FORMER marine has been cleared of ill-treating and sexually assaulting two children.

Norman McConnachie, 42, and his wife Rachel Boyd, 39, went on trial last week accused of ill-treating two girls by forcing them to exercise outdoors in snow while wearing inappropriate clothing for the weather in 2012.

The girls claimed that Mr McConnachie also hit and swore at them and sexually assaulted them by kissing them and putting his tongue in their mouths.

Mr McConnachie and his wife went on trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court last week and both denied the alleged offences.

No evidence was led against Ms Boyd and she was cleared of the two charges of ill-treatment .

Yesterday a jury of 10 women and four men found the same charges not proven against Mr McConnachie by a majority verdict.