under-age niece, could face a re-trial after the jury failed to reach a verdict.

The Attorney General will now decide whether the 34-year-old man will face another trial after the jury spent over four hours deliberating whether or not he had unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl, who is now aged 16.

He also faces three counts of sexual exploitation of a young person. Earlier in the week-long trial, Chief Justice Austin Ward ordered not guilty verdicts on three further similar charges.

The names of the defendant and the complainant cannot be disclosed for legal reasons.

Mr. Justice Ward made the order yesterday after the jury said they would still not be able to reach a verdict even if they were given more time.

He told them: "I am not surprised that you could not arrive at a verdict, this has been a difficult case, in the area of credibility this can easily happen.'' During the trial, the court had heard the girl claim that she and the man had been involved in a sexual relationship for some time.

But in his summing up Mr. Justice Ward said the defendant denied kissing or fondling the girl and having sex with her.

He said there were several inconsistencies between statements, including one where the girl claimed she was at the man's house, but a woman gave evidence to say that she was there that night, along with the defendant's wife for a time. After the jury had returned their decision, he also had harsh words for the defendant. "I have no sympathy for you, you have brought this on yourself because if you had called the girl's parents when she came around to your house, they would have collected her and she could have been put straight,'' he said.

"You encouraged this girl and got yourself in a pickle -- these charges are still not disposed of.'' The defendant was released on bail until he reappears at the Supreme Court on April 1.