Exclusive:Fareham man accused of rape found not guilty by jury as crown court to pay his defence costs

A man accused of multiple counts of rape has been found not guilty by a jury.

At Portsmouth Crown Court this week, Robert Holmes, 35, of Eastfield Avenue, Fareham, had stood trial for three charges of rape, all of which he denied.

The complainant, who has a life-long right to anonymity, told the court that these alleged offences took place between April 2021 and August 2022.

On Thursday, August 6, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty for all three counts. Holmes has been discharged by the court, and his costs will be covered by the crown court.