A CONVICTED paedophile may face a retrial after a jury failed to reach verdicts on child abuse charges.

Mohammed Anjum, 53, was cleared of a charge of sexual assault but after nearly six hours of deliberations jurors were discharged when they failed to reach a decision on two charges of engaging in sexual activity in front of a child.

Anjum was told by Judge Peter Fox QC at Teesside Crown Court that a decision would be made by the prosecution within a week as to whether he would face a retrial.

During the trial jurors were told that the defendant was jailed in 1994 for four indecent assaults against two young girls.

The mother of one of his alleged victims accused Anjum of being a black magician and exorcist who tried to kill his own father and thought she was possessed by demons.

Anjum of Egmont Road, Middlesbrough, denied these claims and said the mother and children, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, were lying.

The defendant was released on bail until the next hearing at Teesside Crown Court.