AN ISLE of Wight man, accused of attempted rape of a girl while he himself was a teenager, has been acquitted. 

Harry Walls, of Swanmore Road, Ryde, appeared before a judge at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Thursday, March 21.

The 19-year-old was charged with, and always denied, attempted rape of a female aged 16 or over and assault of a female aged 16 or over by penetration, on November 1, 2020.

Summing up the case, recorder Daniel Sawyer took members of jury through a timeline of events and evidence.

He said there were a number of inconsistencies between accounts given, and that these were matters for the jury to bear in mind when assessing witness credibility.

The court heard Mr Walls and the complainant had been at a party in a chalet on Halloween, in 2020.

Judge Sawyer reminded members of the jury that alcohol was involved, and everyone at the party had been drinking to some extent.

Turning to the allegation itself, Mr Sawyer said it was the crown’s case that the complainant woke up to find Mr Walls on top of her.

Mr Walls’ consistently denied that anything happened.

Yesterday (Thursday), members of the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty.