A former Stevenage builder accused of raping a woman nine years ago has been cleared by a jury after a second trial.

Steven Sey, now 39, of Hydean Way, had denied four charges of raping of a woman he met in a bar.

He was cleared of the offences after a five day trial at Cambridge Crown Court, concluded yesterday.

Mr Sey said the alleged rapes, in which he was said to have put a pillow over the woman’s face at an address in Stevenage, didn’t happen.

He told the court the woman had made up the allegations in a bid to obtain state-funded compensation.