THE mother of a teenager accused of a sex attack on a seven-year-old girl broke down in tears when she heard police would not be pressing charges against him.

And she says her family - including her 14-year-old son - had to move to a different area of Newport for his own safety after the allegation was made in July.

It had been alleged that the boy, who was 13 at the time of his arrest, had assaulted the girl, from Newport, in a disused garage in the city.

The boy's mother, 35, told the Argus she broke down in tears on Monday night when she heard police were not pressing charges.

She said: "We have had six weeks of hell since the allegation was made, and now we are absolutely relieved.

"I have lost my home where I lived for 14 years, but we had to move out for my son's safety.

"My son has said he never touched her all the way through this. I just want everyone to know he is innocent. "It's a terrible thing for someone so young to go through, and because I'm his mum I've been through hell. It's a terrible feeling."

Newport city council moved the family to another area of the city two weeks ago.

The mother said: "We have had some support from my best friend and my nephew, but when I was walking down the street I felt the neighbours were pointing at me.

"My son was being threatened and chased around, so he didn't go out the house for two weeks."

The boy had been arrested in the early hours of July 29 after the girl's mother contacted police to say her daughter claimed to have been assaulted.

Superintendent Nigel Russell, at Newport Central police station, said: "The boy was released without charge as the girl has made no statement to indicate any inappropriate behaviour had taken place."