PORTSMOUTH star Russell Hoult has been cleared of sending indecent letters to a 15-year-old girl.

Married Hoult, 28, of The Cedars, Fareham, admitted sending the four letters last year, but denied their content could be described as indecent.

Goalkeeper Hoult, denied four counts of sending indecent letters under the rarely used Post Office Act 1953 when he appeared at Derby magistrates court yesterday.

Steven Mann, defending, told the court: "Mr Hoult accepts that he was the sender of the four letters and that they were sent through the post.

"Compare them to the postcards that you have seen at the British seaside, the so-called saucy seaside postcards.

"Is what is put in these letters any worse, and would anybody seriously say these postcards were indecent?"

The bench took just 15 minutes to find Hoult not guilty on all four charges.

Chairman of the bench Susan Roberts said: "We find that the letters were distasteful, but they are not indecent."

The letters were sent on four dates last year; 19 and 26 January, and 3 and 31 March.

Hoult, who moved to Pompey from Derby County in a £300,000 move in March, refused to comment after the verdict.