Man, 25, cleared of rape

Raphael Sheriff was found not guilty by a Liverpool Crown Court jury after less than two hours deliberations and he was discharged from the dock.

The 25-year-old woman claimed that Sheriff had raped her a year ago but he told the court that they had had consensual sex.

Trevor Parry-Jones, prosecuting, told the jury how the woman, who was on her own, met Sheriff, of Market Street, by chance in The Hub nightclub in Wigan on January 31 last year.

Later they walked along King Street together and after buying some takeaway food walked to his flat so he could put his phone on charge to call her a taxi.

She alleged he pushed her down onto his bed and despite her screams raped her.

Sheriff, also 25, denied her allegations and said that she had consented to have sex with him and afterwards called for a taxi to take her home.