The US tech billionaire Elon Musk has been found not liable for defamation after being sued by a British cave expert he had called a "pedo guy" on Twitter.

A Los Angeles jury found in favour of Mr Musk after a four-day trial in which Vernon Unsworth, who had taken part in the rescue of a group of children in Thailand last year, had sought damages of up to $190 million (£145 million) for libel.

The two had clashed after Mr Unsworth, 64, insulted Mr Musk's proposals for a mini submarine to rescue the children from the flooded caves. Mr Musk, 48, had responded by referring to Mr Unsworth as a "pedo guy".

A jury took less than an hour to consider the verdict. Judge Stephen Wilson read out the verdict, delivered by the jury foreman, saying: “We find in favour of the defendant.”

Speaking outside court after the decision, Mr Musk said: "My faith in humanity has been restored." His lawyer Alex Spiro said: "The jury got it right."

Asked if it had been an easy decision, the jury foreman said: "Took us like 20 minutes."