A man accused of rape and sexual assault in a town centre park has been acquitted.
Luke Boyce was arrested after a teenager reported that she had been raped by a man in Stanhope Park, Darlington, at around 11.30pm on April 8.
A court heard the 21-year-old attempted to sell bags of baking powder, disguised as cocaine, in the town centre earlier that night. CCTV shown in court picked up Boyce later that night alongside the 15-year-old girl walking towards Stanhope Park.
However, questions were raised by Boyce’s defence team over the girl’s evidence.
A jury at Teesside Crown Court on Friday found Boyce not guilty of the charges by a result of 10 to two.
But Boyce, who was remanded in custody, will remain in prison due to an outstanding charge for possession of a knife in a public place.
He is due to reappear in court on October 18, where he will be sentenced for possession.
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