A LANCASTER man has been cleared of raping a woman who invited him to spend the night in her bed.

A jury of eight women and four men at Carlisle Crown Court took less than 10 minutes to find 24-year-old David Boone, of Bowerham Road, innocent of the charge.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claimed she had allowed Mr Boone to sleep in her room in the staff quarters of a Bowness hotel after a night out with other staff.

"We were just friends - nothing was going to happen," she said in evidence. "I get on with lads a lot better than with girls."

The court heard the woman claimed Mr Boone had sex with her, despite her struggles and cries of 'No'.

She denied telling a hotel doorman that she was so drunk she couldn't remember what happened, or saying she was not sure if she led Mr Boone on.

Mr Boone, who pleaded not guilty of rape, admitted having sex with the woman, but said she was not just willing but more enthusiastic than he was. She had done the chasing, he said.