Kevin Spacey has been found not guilty of sexual offenses against four men, as his trial comes to a conclusion.
Spacey - who turned 64 today - stood accused of nine sexual offense charges against four men dating between 2001 and 2013, during which time the American Beauty actor had been in his role as Artistic Director of The Old Vic theater in Waterloo, London.
The Hollywood star denied all charges against him as he sought to clear his name at Southwark Crown Court. The trial in London, which started in June, has concluded with the Hollywood actor being found not guilty.
Spacey has previously pleaded not guilty to all nine charges - which range from indecent and sexual assaults to the more severe offense of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent, an offense carrying a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.
The not-guilty plea was entered in July last year, which included charges of four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.
During the opening statements, the prosecution acknowledged that Spacey was an "extremely famous" man, but claimed that he "sexually assaults other men".
As reported by Sky News, when he was called to the stand to defend himself, Spacey said: "There was a rush to judgment and before the first question was asked or answered I lost my job, I lost my reputation, I lost everything in a matter of days."
The actor acknowledged that he engaged in an "intimate" sexual moment with a man who was accusing him of drugging him before performing a sexual act - but he expressed that it was consensual.
Spacey explained that one of his accusers was an "intimate pal" who has since "stabbed [him] in the back". As per AP News, Spacey said: "I never thought that (the man) I knew would... 20 years later stab me in the back."
Another allegation made by a man who met Spacey in a London theatre in the mid-2000s was dismissed as untrue.
The actor admits he "made a pass" at the fourth complainant, but ceased his behavior when the man expressed that he wanted him to stop.
Spacey was open with the court about how he was a "flirt" but insisted: "It doesn't make me a bad person."
As the not-guilty plea on all counts was read by the jury, who deliberated for over 12 hours, Spacey reportedly broke down in tears in the courtroom.
