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Presenter cleared of sex assault BBC presenter denies rape claim
(about 1 hour later)
A BBC radio presenter has been acquitted of sexual assault and supplying a drug with intention to engage in sexual activity. A BBC presenter who denies raping a man he met at a New Year party has told a court he would never have harmed him.
But Nigel Wrench, 47, remains accused of raping a 26-year-old man in his flat in Finsbury Park, north London, on 1 January 2007. Nigel Wrench, 47, said he took cocaine with the 26-year-old alleged victim and they returned to Mr Wrench's flat in Finsbury Park, north London, last year.
His alleged victim told the Old Bailey he was drugged by Mr Wrench and woke up to find he was being assaulted. He told the Old Bailey they drank champagne before having consensual sex.
Earlier, the jury was ordered to return not guilty verdicts of sexual assault and supplying a drug with intention to engage in sexual activity.
Judge Michael Shamrock said there was insufficient evidence for a conviction.
HIV positive
Mr Wrench, a presenter on BBC Radio 4's PM programme, has denied all charges.Mr Wrench, a presenter on BBC Radio 4's PM programme, has denied all charges.
The judge asked the jury to clear Mr Wrench on two of the charges and his defence over the rape has started. He told the jury he never did anything with the alleged victim that he had not agreed to, and would have stopped if he had been asked.
The alleged victim, now aged 27, told a jury they met at a New Year party. "The last thing - that is the irony of the situation, isn't it? - I would have done is to harm him," Mr Wrench told the court.
Giving evidence Mr Wrench told the court how he "felt a spark" when chatting to the alleged victim. The presenter told the court he had never made a secret about being gay and had presented a lesbian and gay radio programme, Out This Week, on BBC Radio 5 Live.
He added after the party they went back to his flat and kissed passionately and that the alleged victim smiled and said "yes" when Mr Wrench suggested they go to bed. The jury heard he had spoken on the radio and written articles about the fact that he was HIV positive.
Mr Wrench said he told his alleged victim about his HIV status on the night they met. The court has been told the man also has HIV.
The trial continues.