THE jury in the case of a doctor accused of sexually assaulting a 16 year-old girl has been discharged after failing to reach a verdict.

Judge Edward Slinger took the decision yesterday afternoon in the case of Doctor Naveen Shivan, who worked at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

The jury at Preston Crown Court had been sent out to deliberate on Thursday afternoon but by yesterday morning had still been unable to reach a unanimous decision.

Judge Slinger told the jury he was willing to accept a majority verdict - one where 10 or more jurors were agreed.

But after six hours 45 minutes in total, the jury was unable to reach a decision and said it was unlikely they would even with more time.

Legal parties in the case now have two weeks to decide if there should be a re-trial in the case.

Doctor Shivan, 35, of Infirmary Close, Black-burn, has not been present during the case and the jury has been ordered not to speculate why.

He had denied sexually assaulting the girl in August 2005 after she was admitted to Blackburn Royal Infirm-ary with acute tonsillitis.

Earlier the court heard claims that the girl told a nurse she had woken during the night when she felt cold hands on her belly.

She alleged Doctor Shivan then indecently assaulted her and pushed his lips to the side of her neck.

But he later told police he had performed an examination to check the girl was not suffering from glandular fever.

In a police interview, Dr Shivan who works as an ear nose and throat doctor agreed it was unusual to examine her at the time, said to be in the early hours.

He also said that the timing of the alleged examination could not be explained.