A man was cleared yesterday of raping a schoolboy on holiday at a seaside hotel.
The 12-year-old from County Durham was due to be cross- examined over a TV link when the jury was told that the Crown was offering no evidence after overnight legal discussions. The judge at Teesside Crown Court directed the jury to return six not guilty verdicts on Terence Barwick, 42, of Fairfield Walk, Crook, County Durham, who stayed at the same hotel as the boy and his mother in Blackpool, last August.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, alleged Mr Barwick twice forced his way into his room and raped him. Mr Barwick made a complete denial, said Shaun Dodds, prosecuting.
Mr Barwick was found not guilty of four charges of rape, of sexual assault on a child under 13, and making a threat to kill. He was awarded costs.
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