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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Presenter cleared of raping man | Presenter cleared of raping man |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| BBC Radio 4 presenter Nigel Wrench has been cleared by a jury at the Old Bailey of raping a man he met at a New Year's Eve Party. | |
| Mr Wrench, 47, from Finsbury Park, north London, had denied a charge of rape, saying he had consensual sex with the man in January 2007. | Mr Wrench, 47, from Finsbury Park, north London, had denied a charge of rape, saying he had consensual sex with the man in January 2007. |
| He told the court he took cocaine with the 27-year-old before they returned to Mr Wrench's flat. | He told the court he took cocaine with the 27-year-old before they returned to Mr Wrench's flat. |
| His defence had urged the jury to ignore any feelings of repugnance. | His defence had urged the jury to ignore any feelings of repugnance. |
| 'Lost consciousness' | 'Lost consciousness' |
| Earlier, the jury was ordered to return not guilty verdicts on charges of sexual assault and supplying the drug Temazepam with intention to engage in sexual activity. | Earlier, the jury was ordered to return not guilty verdicts on charges of sexual assault and supplying the drug Temazepam with intention to engage in sexual activity. |
| Judge Michael Shamrock said there was insufficient evidence for a conviction on those charges. | Judge Michael Shamrock said there was insufficient evidence for a conviction on those charges. |
| Mr Wrench did not make any comment after the verdict on Friday. | Mr Wrench did not make any comment after the verdict on Friday. |
| A BBC spokesperson said: "The BBC is aware of the verdict." | A BBC spokesperson said: "The BBC is aware of the verdict." |
| During the trial, the other man told the jury he had lost consciousness after taking a gulp of Champagne given to him by the defendant. | During the trial, the other man told the jury he had lost consciousness after taking a gulp of Champagne given to him by the defendant. |
| He alleged he woke later in the day to find himself being punched about the head and was then forced to perform a sex act. | He alleged he woke later in the day to find himself being punched about the head and was then forced to perform a sex act. |
| During his trial, Mr Wrench said he believed the man was enjoying himself and had agreed to perform an act on him. | During his trial, Mr Wrench said he believed the man was enjoying himself and had agreed to perform an act on him. |
| The last thing... I would have done is to harm him Nigel Wrench | The last thing... I would have done is to harm him Nigel Wrench |
| Mr Wrench said the pair had come back to his flat and drunk Champagne. | Mr Wrench said the pair had come back to his flat and drunk Champagne. |
| "The last thing - that is the irony of the situation, isn't it? - I would have done is to harm him." | "The last thing - that is the irony of the situation, isn't it? - I would have done is to harm him." |
| He said he had met the man a few nights before the New Year party and that there had been a "spark" between them. | He said he had met the man a few nights before the New Year party and that there had been a "spark" between them. |
| He said that he had offered the man the opportunity to come to the studio and watch him record his show for work experience. | He said that he had offered the man the opportunity to come to the studio and watch him record his show for work experience. |
| He denied plying the man with date-rape drugs. | |
| "He seemed to me to be fully in control of his faculties," Mr Wrench said. | "He seemed to me to be fully in control of his faculties," Mr Wrench said. |