A 44-year-old Suffolk man accused of raping a woman in Lowestoft has been cleared by a jury.

Appearing before Ipswich Crown Court on Tuesday, June 6 was Tony Kirk, of High Street, Lowestoft who denied raping the woman in October last year.

Giving evidence during his trial, Mr Kirk said he and two other men had gone to the woman’s aid after seeing her rolling on the ground at the back of a town centre pub in Lowestoft with another person.

Mr Kirk had said the woman was bleeding from a head wound and he and two other men had helped her home.

He claimed that after spending a couple of hours chatting and smoking with the woman after he was left alone with her, she had touched him sexually and they had then removed their lower clothing and had consensual sex.

Mr Kirk had said he had told the woman he wasn't what she wanted and that she would regret having sex with him in the morning, but she had persisted.

He denied using any physical force on her and said that at no stage had she tried to push him away or told him to stop.

Following the jury's verdict Judge Emma Peters made a restraining order banning Mr Kirk from approaching or contacting the alleged victim, or going to anywhere she lives until further notice.