from – www.qt.com.au – AN IPSWICH man accused of sucking and licking a 15-year-old girl’s feet has been found not guilty.

The jury returned to Ipswich District Court with the not guilty verdict for four charges of indecently dealing with a child under 16 after deliberating for just 45 minutes.

The man, who cannot be named, was accused of massaging, rubbing and sucking his stepson’s girlfriend’s feet and toes several times, when she was at his house and once in a car between November 30, 2007 and July 2 last year.

The 43-year-old man had pleaded not guilty to the charges in the trial which began a week ago.

During the trial the court heard the man admitted to police that he had a foot fetish and that he gave the girl a consensual “Chinese foot massage” using his chin.

He told police that his lips might have brushed against her foot during the massage but he did not lick or suck her toes.

The man maintained there was nothing sexual about what he had done and he was surprised when the girl complained about the massage.

Crown Prosecutor Sal Vasta said the trial was not about foot fetishes and that many celebrities, including Jack Black and Jay Leno, liked feet.

Mr Vasta said the man must have had a guilty conscience to tell police about shaking her foot to wake her up if he had not dealt with her feet inappropriately.

Defence barrister Peter Sloane told the court it was “not criminal to have a habit” and reminded the jury to make their judgement on the evidence rather than on his client’s interest in feet.

“You might think, that’s bizarre, that’s strange… But has the Crown proven that he licked and sucked her toes in the bedroom and in the car?”

Mr Sloane said the man had been very honest and open when interviewed by police.

“He told police quite openly, quite blatantly – I gave this Chinese massage and I used my chin,” Mr Sloane said.

The man spoke to the QT outside the court yesterday and said he was relieved the ordeal was over.

“It was a little bit puzzling why she brought it all up,” he said. “She consented to me massaging her foot and it was all done – in all honesty – there was no sexual or perverse thing about it. I’m just glad it’s over.”