A MAN has been cleared of raping a teenager he met outside a kebab shop.

Mark Woodworth, 39, was found not guilty of two charges of rape, by a Burnley Crown Court jury, after a two-day trial.

The defendant, of East Hill Street, Barnoldswick, and formerly of Devonshire Street, Accrington, was discharged from the dock by Judge Raymond Bennett.

The alleged victim, a 17-year-old girl, had claimed that after she went back to the defendant's home in the early hours, he had pinned down her arms and had sex with her despite the fact she repeatedly said "no." She told the jury she thought she had been going back to Woodworth's house to sleep.

The court heard that when interviewed by police, Woodworth told them the girl had consented to everything they had done. He told the court the teenager had kissed and fondled him, had taken off her own clothes when they got back to his house and had got on top of him. She had not said no to sex.

Cross examined by Keith Harrison, defending, the girl said she had "snogged" Woodworth three times on the way to his house and although she had had six or seven halves of lager, she had known what she was doing. She had been flattered when the defendant told her she was gorgeous.

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