A jury has ruled Elon Musk not guilty of defaming British cave diver Vernon Unsworth by referring to him as ‘pedo guy’ in a tweet last summer.

Unsworth, who had helped in last year’s rescue of trapped Thai schoolboys, had been seeking damages of $190 million (£145 million) in damages from the billionaire Tesla founder and SpaceX CEO.

Musk’s tweet, his lawyer argued, had damaged his reputation, but the entrepreneur told the court this week that “pedo guy” is a common phrase in South Africa, his place of birth.

The jury took less than an hour to deliver a unanimous verdict after a four-day trial at a federal court in Los Angeles, USA.

Jury foreman Joshua Jones said Unsworth’s legal team had not proven its case and should have focused more on the evidence rather than trying to get their “emotions involved in it.”

Following the verdict, Musk said: “My faith in humanity is restored.”

Unsworth’s lawyer, Lin Wood, said their side would leave the court “with our heads held high” but that the decision was “not a good verdict for society”.

He added: “This verdict sends a signal, and one signal only – that you can make any accusation you want to, as vile as it may be and as untrue as it may be, and somebody can get away with it.”

Unsworth, who is said to be preparing to appeal the verdict, said: “I respect the jury’s decision. I’d just like to say my legal team have been absolutely awesome. I came here for a verdict. Unfortunately, it’s not gone the way I expected but I respect the jury’s decision and thank them for that.”

Mr Musk sent Tesla engineers and a small submarine to northern Thailand to help with the rescue effort, but the vessel was never used.

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In June 2018, 12 members of a boys football team, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old assistant coach were trapped during an expedition into Tham Luang Nang Non cave, Thailand, when heavy rainfall flooded the cave system.

Unsworth became involved in a rescue operation while Musk sent Tesla engineers and a small submarine to northern Thailand to help with the rescue effort. The vessel was never used.

Musk and Unsworth got into a public spat after the diver branded the offer of help a “PR stunt”, adding that Musk should “stick his submarine where it hurts”.