Wyre councillor Ashley Sorensen from Thornton charged with raping a child found not guilty
By Emma Downey
Published 21st Aug 2026, 16:26 BST
Mr Sorensen was found not guilty of eight offences alleged to have occurred between 21 January 1983 and 20 January 1989.
A serving councillor on Wyre Council has been found not guilty today of allegations relating to historic sex offences.
Ashley Sorensen, 56, of Woodland Avenue, Thornton, appeared at Preston Crown Court accused of eight offences alleged to have occurred between 21 January 1983 and 20 January 1989.
The allegations included one charge of raping a girl under the age of 16 and seven counts of indecent assault against a girl under the age of 14.
He previously entered a plea of not guilty to all counts and was unconditionally bailed.
Following the five day trial which began on Monday the jury has today found him not guilty on all counts.
This story has been updated to included the details of the historic nature of the allegations.