THE parents of a troubled schoolgirl who falsely accused a teacher of rape went to astonishing lengths to help her — forking out around £250,000, it emerged last night.

Highly respected geography teacher Kato Harris, 37, was cleared by a jury in just 26 minutes last week.

7 Free ... Top teacher Kato Harris was cleared by jury in under half an hour Credit: CENTRAL NEWS

It sparked questions over why the allegations ever went to court in the first place — after the Crown Prosecution Service initially warned police the case was too weak to press charges.

Today the full extent of the wealthy parents’ financial support for their daughter can be revealed.

They paid for two private therapists for the then 14-year-old - including one she visited in New York every week for a year — plus a psychotherapist and hypnotist.

They also privately hired a former top CPS prosecutor who brought in an ex-Scotland Yard cop as a “private investigator”.

7 Hired ... Former Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers was brought in to help the girl's case Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd

Det Con Sarah Lloyd, leading the investigation, later admitted such involvement was “unique”.

It was only after the bullied teen gave what was described in court as a “rehearsed” interview that Mr Harris was charged.

But his subsequent speedy acquittal last week sparked fury.

One of his relatives said: “The way the girl’s parents threw money at this needs to be looked at.”

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7 Top cop ... Ms Akers, seen here appearing before a parliamary committee, led Scotland Yard's phone hacking investigations Credit: PA:Press Association Wire

The teenager, who suffered with an eating disorder and frequent panic attacks, claimed she was attacked by Mr Harris three times at her £18,000-a-year all-girl boarding school in London.

She initially said nothing after the attacks allegedly took place in October, November and December 2013.

But the following April her housemistress noticed she seemed troubled.

She asked if she had been abused and the girl replied: “Maybe.”

7 Therapy ... Troubled girl travelled to New York once a week to see a therapist Credit: Getty Images

That December the girl went to see the housemistress who said: “She handed me a piece of folded paper and on it it said, ‘I was raped’.

“She was very distressed and burst into tears.

“She then ripped it into pieces and threw it in the bin, having snatched it off me.”

The teenager then gave a police interview in which she initially refused to give the name of her alleged attacker.

7 Court ... Jury at Isleworth Crown Court cleared Mr Harris in just 26 minutes Credit: Alamy

The CPS later concluded Mr Harris could not be charged due to a significant lack of evidence.

Her parents then brought out the chequebook — hiring top London law firm Mishcon de Reya to help handle the case.

They also employed a £600-an-hour senior partner at the firm, Alison Levitt QC, the top CPS official behind a string of failed prosecutions against journalists.

Sue Akers, the ex-Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner who led Scotland Yard’s phone hacking cases, also came in as a “private investigator”.

Ms Akers held “a number of meetings with serving officers about the case” and asked for access to court papers.

She also spoke to the girl’s family several times.

7 Respected ... Harris's former boss described him as an 'outstanding' teacher Credit: Array

Shortly afterwards the girl requested a second interview – which Mr Harris’ lawyer described in court as seeming “rehearsed”.

The girl told the rape trial: “I didn’t name Mr Harris in the first interview as I couldn’t say his name.

“Only after therapy in America I could say it.

“I fly to New York every week to see a psychiatrist.

“All my lessons were finished in the morning, so I’d fly out in the evening.

“I’d do therapy all day Tuesday, then fly back in the evening for school on Wednesday.”

I didn’t name Mr Harris in the first interview as I couldn’t say his name. Only after therapy in America I could say it. I fly to New York every week to see a psychiatrist Accuser

Mr Harris did not teach the girl regularly, only standing in for a few supply lessons, but feared he was targeted due to an off-hand remark.

He said in court: “I was shown a photo of her pulling a silly face in a school photo in the corridor.

“I said, ‘Oh there’s always one’.

“I said it was silly.

"She did in fact find out that I had said that and was apparently quite resentful about it.”

Mr Harris, from Richmond, South West London, said the classroom where the alleged rapes took place was visible from the corridor.

He was also taking a drug for anxiety that severely impacted his libido.

7 'Backed off' ... Ms Akers says she removed herself from the case once she found out the police were pursuing the investigation Credit: Rex Features

A former headteacher at Harris’ school said of him in court: “He was outstanding, bordering on brilliant.

"Pupils adored his lessons.

“If I were still a head teacher, I would employ him in a heartbeat.”

Another witness, who taught languages at the school, said: “He was inspirational.

“He really wanted everyone to do well and loved his subject.

"I went on a school trip to Iceland, led by Mr Harris, and it was inspirational.”

The last 20 months have put massive stress on my family and I take this opportunity to thank them for their love and care Cleared teacher Kato Harris

After he was acquitted at Isleworth crown court, Mr Harris, who is now a father with a new partner, said: “I am very grateful for the decision of the jury today.

“The last 20 months have put massive stress on my family and I take this opportunity to thank them for their love and care.”

Ms Akers said: “[The girl’s family] sought legal advice when they thought that the police were going to drop their daughter’s case very, very early on.

"They went to Mishcon.

“Someone’s got to prepare a case for private prosecution or civil action.

“That’s why I was brought in.

“I did meet with the DI [detective inspector] and DS [detective sergeant] that were running the team.

"They said to me, ‘No we haven’t dropped this case, we are continuing.’

“So then I backed right off.”