City trader cleared of raping girl he met in bar

A CITY trader accused of raping a teenage girl at his mother's home has been cleared.

James Quinn, 20, was said to have laced the 17-year-old's water with alcohol at an Essex nightspot before groping her in front of staff. It was claimed he took the girl in a cab to his mother's house in Gidea Park and raped her.

But a jury at Snaresbrook crown court acquitted the trader, from Maldon, Essex, of rape yesterday. The trial heard how Mr Quinn met the teenager at Bar 131 in Romford. She claimed he "sneaked" her into his mother's home where he hurled her onto his brother's bed and raped her.

But Mr Quinn said they had shared kisses at the bar and she invited him to grope her inside her underwear. He said the teenager whispered "I love you" in his ear.

Asked if he forced himself on the girl on 10 November 2007, he said: "I would not ever consider doing anything with anyone against their consent."