A full time member of staff at the University of Wales Students’ Union has today been acquitted of the alleged rape of an Exeter student during a house party in Exeter.
A jury at Exeter Crown Court deliberated for over ten hours before returning the not guilty verdict. The incident was alleged to have taken place last summer, after an awards dinner at the University.
The defendant, Christopher Davis, 33, had gone to a party at a student house after the awards dinner, which was part of a conference of university sports organisers from across the country. The court heard that Davis asked his host if he could stay the night, and that he was shown into a bedroom where the alleged victim was sleeping.
The woman, 21, had been out shopping for a graduation dress that day, and said that she had no recollection of the events after passing out.
The jury heard that the unconscious girl was carried to bed by friends, who later discovered Mr. Davis having sex with her.
The accused claimed that the victim was just “a nice girl” who “came onto me”, and that the sex was consensual. Davis, a former member of the Royal Horse Artillery, said in his defence that he thought it was going to be “sex with no strings attached”, and that “she was enjoying herself and was a willing partner”. Davis fled when discovered, although he claims this was due to fearing that he was going to be attacked.
Davis’ fiancée and family were noticeably relieved as the verdict was returned by Judge Mr Justice Barnett. Davis had rubbished claims that he saw the woman as a piece of “sexual meat”, and that he must have known she was unable to consent because he had seen her be carried to bed unconscious.
Owen Keating, News Editor
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