A court usher who developed a close relationship with a defendant was cleared today of trying to influence a jury to acquit him.

Samantha Dimon, 34, from Horsham, became friends with Mohammed Patel, 40, during his four-month trial for fraud at Kingston Crown Court. He was jailed for four and a half years.

She poured her heart out to him during adjournments, telling him of the beatings her hard-drinking boyfriend gave her.

And Patel told the £11,000-a-year usher intimate details about his marriage.

Dimon, of Goose Garden Close, visited the defendant in Wandsworth Prison, breaking strict rules.

She denied cornering a juror on Patel's orders and trying to influence the woman into acquitting the fraudster.

An Old Bailey jury found Dimon not guilty of three charges of misconduct in a judicial or public office and one of perverting the course of justice.

The judge acquitted Dimon of a further charge of misconduct after the jury failed to reach a verdict.

It related to an allegation the usher had failed to report that Patel had asked her to speak to the jury.

Dimon trembled and sobbed as the verdicts were given.