A NIGHTCLUB bouncer was cleared of raping a teenager after a four-day trial.

David Johns, 20, was found not guilty by a Burnley Crown Court jury and acquitted of witness intimidation on the direction of Judge Raymond Bennett.

Johns, formerly of The Crescent, Blackburn, had denied both charges. He awaits sentence after admitting an unrelated charge of assault causing actual bodily harm. Johns, now living and working in Nottingham, was bailed to October 23.

It had been alleged that Johns, then doorman at Millennium, Blackburn, had raped the 17-year-old after going back to her home in the early hours. It was claimed he went to the girl's room after she went to bed, asked her "Do you want it?" and had sex with her after she had said "No".

The alleged victim made a complaint of rape after leaving college upset, a couple of days later.

Johns told the court he and the girl did not have sex. He said she had been drinking and taking cannabis and although he and her sister had gone to wake the teenager up, he didn't know why.

The jury earlier heard that after the rape allegation was made, Johns said he would "not touch the girl with a barge pole".

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