A 24-year-old man has been cleared of raping a woman attending a hen night in Cookstown, Co Tyrone.
Jamie Hunter, from Rathfriland Road, Dromara, never disputed that sexual contact took place in the car park of a nightclub in July 2015 but maintained it was consensual.
In a trial lasting just over two weeks at Dungannon Crown Court, the prosecution contended the complainant was too drunk to consent.
CCTV footage showed the pair leaving the club, both appearing unsteady, and crossing the car park to an area of trees.
Twenty minutes later security staff escorted the complainant back indoors, having found her in the car park.
Body-cam footage captured her ripped clothing and a bleeding, grazed knee.
She said: “I’m scared... It wasn’t right what he was doing... I told him stop.”
Hunter was arrested at his home the following day and during interview told police there was a "spark" between them, saying: “She was loving it. She wasn’t telling me to stop or anything.”
He claimed he told her to stop because they were too drunk but "she said it would be okay".
The jury deliberated for around three hours before returning a majority verdict of not guilty.
Judge Rafferty told Hunter: “You are free to go without a blemish on your character.”
The judge also praised two female security staff who had assisted the complainant, saying: “I wish to formally place on record their behaviour was an exceptional demonstration of humanity and I commend them for their actions.”
