Man cleared of rape (From Malvern Gazette)

Worcester man cleared of rape

4:17pm Thursday 10th January 2013 in News

Man cleared of rape

There were screams from the public gallery when a 25-year-old Worcester engineer was cleared of rape.

A jury, reduced to 11 because of illness, returned a unanimous not guilty verdict on Simon Walters-Melville, of Tolladine Road.

At a previous trial, a jury was unable to reach a verdict on Walters-Melville, then living in Winslow View, Winslow, Bromyard.

The prosecution alleged that he had taken advantage of a 25-year-old woman who was so drunk that she was unable to consent to sex.

The couple had met in March last year after drinking at various night spots in Worcester. They had shared a taxi to the woman's home and shared a bottle of wine.

The woman complained to police that she awoke in the lounge find Walters-Melville on top of her having intercourse. She fled upstairs and telephoned a friend and then her mother.

Walters-Melville, a man of no previous convictions, said the woman kissed him and sat astride him before they had sex. He could have fled the house but was waiting for police when they arrived and opened the door. He claimed that she panicked after regretting sex.