A 31 YEAR-old man has been cleared of raping a woman said to be "vulnerable and damaged."

James McKee was found not guilty of the charge after a four-day trial at Burnley Crown Court.

The defendant, of Queen Street, Clayton-le-Moors, denied the allegation and said he and the woman did not have sex.

The jury had heard claims the defendant turned up at the lesbian woman's flat in the early hours after earlier meeting her in a pub.

The alleged victim, said to be a binge drinker and on anti-depressants and to have a lot of personal problems, had only just moved into her home and had been introducing herself in the pub.

She had just finished a long-term relationship with her partner and was said to be emotionally stressed.

McKee was alleged to have suggested they have sex even though the complainant told him she was gay. He told her: "Everyone is gay."

He was then alleged to have pulled down the woman's clothing, forced himself on her, given her a love bite and fallen asleep. The woman called police and an officer arrived and arrested the defendant.

McKee told the court he had been drunk when he arrived at the flat. He said he gave the woman a love bite and went to sleep. They did not have sex.