A 41-year-old Bury St Edmunds man accused of rape has been cleared by a jury.

Before Ipswich Crown Court on Friday was Lee Weekes, of Risbygate Street, Bury St Edmunds, who denied raping the woman in 2020.

He was unanimously cleared by a jury after a trial.

The court has been told that the woman was left with bruises on her neck and back after the alleged rape.

Weekes, who had been drinking, allegedly grabbed the woman's hair and had sex with her despite her protests.

David Matthew, prosecuting,  claimed Weekes was "very rough" and hurt the woman who told him "no" and "stop".

After the alleged rape the woman had a bruise on her neck caused by a "love bite" and bruising across her back and shoulders, said Mr Matthew.

Mr Matthew told the jury it was "a disgrace and an embarrassment" to the criminal justice system that it had taken more than three years for the case to come to trial and said the Covid pandemic was partly to blame for the delay.

He said that after his arrest Weekes told police he had consensual sex with the woman and explained the bruises on her body by saying she bruised easily.