A WEARSIDE man has been cleared of raping a woman after she accused him of kissing her lesbian lover.

Abdirashid Said, 33, was accused of attacking the woman when the lovers had an argument at his flat, in Toward Road, Sunderland, on May 8.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the couple had gone to Said's flat for drinks, but the supplies ran dry and Said and one of the women went out to get some more.

But when they were late returning, a row broke out when the pair were accused of kissing together.

The court heard how one of the lovers left without her partner.

When she returned to the flat some time later, the other woman had fled and later claimed Mr Said had subjected her to a terrifying sex attack.

Mr Said was arrested the following day, but denied rape and claimed the pair had had consensual sex after she made a pass at him, when he tried to console her after the row with her lover.

Mr Said walked free from court after the jury took just an hour to believe his version of events and find him not guilty of rape and false imprisonment