THIS WEEK IN 1994: Man cleared of rape but '˜branded' for life

The 19-year-old, who quit his course at the city’s university because of the pressure of the pending trial, had denied committing the offence after meeting the woman outside a Southsea night club.

Winchester Crown Court had heard that the woman slept in the same bed as the man.

But the next morning she told friends she had told him she was too tired before he had sex with her.

Judge Michael Addison told the jury the prosecution had failed to prove that a rape had been committed.

He said both the man and the woman were in the same bed and she had not told him to get out or physically resisted when he wanted sex.

In interviews the man told police the woman had started sexual activities and had consented to everything.

The judge ordered that the jury return a not guilty verdict and discharged the defendant.

He said: ‘I am branded for life and my character is blackened.

‘My name will always be associated with a terrible crime I did not commit.’