A NORTH east man has been found guilty of male rape after he attacked his victim as he walked through a nature reserve.

Jurors took a little over three hours to convict Michael Kinfe Tewelde of rape following the attack earlier this year.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told Teesside Crown Court how he had offered to smoke a cannabis joint with his alleged attacker while he was walking near the Maze Park Nature Reserve, in Middlesbrough, at around 7.30pm on Thursday, April 29.

Jurors heard how the victim broke down when he returned home and police were able to recover a towel from the scene which the man had used to clean himself up after the attack.

The married father-of-two said it was the complainant who made the sexual advances towards him.

In the prosecution's closing speech, Jonathan Walker, said Tewelde's version of events was 'highly unlikely'.

Tewelde, of Leeds Street, Stockton, pleaded not guilty to the allegation of rape but was convicted after a trial.

He will be sentenced early next year after being remanded in custody.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Teesside Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054