A man broke down in tears after a jury cleared him on charges of rape and indecent assault.

The prosecution at Chelmsford Crown Court had alleged Gerald Gordon had raped the 26-year-old woman at her home near Clacton, but the jury of seven men and five women found him not guilty on all the charges.

The verdicts were unanimous.

Gordon, 26, of no fixed address, was formally discharged by the court on three charges of rape and two of indecent assault on the woman.

He admitted a charge of burglary at a Co-op store in Clacton in which a quantity of alcohol was stolen and was jailed for three months.

But as he has been in custody since his arrest on the rape allegations in early January this year, he was expected to be released immediately.

Max Hill, prosecuting, told the trial a relationship between the couple had deteriorated and on the day of the alleged attacks on January 12 this year, Gordon had been drinking.

There was an argument between the two and at one point Gordon put a kitchen knife to his chest and placed his girlfriend's hand on the handle, daring her to stab him, Mr Hill said.

Gordon then threatened the woman and took her to the bedroom where the alleged assaults took place.

Gordon admitted having sex with the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, but said she had consented to sex.

The burglary charge related to an incident the same night when Gordon entered a Co-op store by breaking a door and stealing some alcohol, the court heard.

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