A Watford taxi driver was today (Monday) cleared of exposing himself to a 15-year-old girl in his cab.

Syed Haider, 37, was accused of pulling the waistband back of his trousers and showing his penis to the girl as he drove around a roundabout in Hemel Hempstead.

He was arrested after she told a friend at school and then told her parents.

But a jury of seven men and five women at St Albans Crown Court found Mr Haider, of Adams Court, Cezanne Road, Watford, not guilty of exposure on September 29, 2010.

They heard that the girl, who suffers from autism, had misbehaved in the taxi on previous occasions and Mr Haider had twice asked the local council to provide an escort as he drove her to school.

David Wales, defending, said there was no independent evidence in the case.

The girl had admitted she did not like Mr Haider because he had told her off in the past.

Mr Wales said Mr Haider was a family man of good character.

As he left the court Mr Haider thanked the jury.