THE jury has been discharged in the case of a 34 year old married man accused of raping a schoolgirl late at night.

The Burnley Crown Court panel had been unable to reach a verdict in the case of Muhaamad Ansari, after seven hours of deliberations. They were discharged by Judge Heather Lloyd.

Ansari, of Allen Street, Burnley, denied rape and an alternative allegation of sexual assault last February, during the four day trial.

The case will be mentioned before the judge on January 26.

Tim Brennand, prosecuting, had told the jury at the time of the alleged attack the defendant, a father of one, had been 33 and the alleged victim was 15.

She had been out celebrating a birthday with friends in Thompson Park, Burnley, and had drunk a litre of cider. The prosecutor alleged the girl, who had been "vulnerable, young and alone" had parted company with her friends.

She was on her way to her father's home at 11.30pm, when she was spoken to by the defendant.

Mr Brennand claimed Ansari led the alleged victim to a small alleyway near to the mosque off Hebrew Road and allegedly raped her.

The girl went home and told her father what had happened. Police were called.

The prosecutor had told the court the defendant was arrested and interviewed.

He claimed the schoolgirl had accosted him and he had been forced to commit a sex act just to get rid of her.

Mr Brennand had alleged to the jury: "The version of events given by the defendant is as illogical as it is unbelievable."

The court heard when the defendant was interviewed by officers, he accepted he was a married man with a young child.

He alleged the teenager had been "programmed" to do what she did.