Durham University rape trial jury fails to reach verdict

The jury at Durham Crown Court could not reach a majority decision

A jury has failed to reach a verdict in the trial of a student accused of raping a drunken undergraduate.

Alastair Cooke, a third-year geology and geophysics student at Durham University, had denied three counts of raping the woman after a house party.

Durham Crown Court had heard the 22-year-old, from Cornwall, let himself into her house in June last year.

The jury spent almost seven hours deliberating but was unable to reach a majority decision and was discharged.

Mr Cooke, from Perranarworthal, Truro, was released on conditional bail.

The prosecution said consideration would be given to a retrial.