A 25-YEAR-OLD from Brize Norton has been cleared of raping a 15-year-old girl in his car.

Aaron Deakin-Hars, of Squires Road, Brize Norton, was unanimously found not guilty of committing the crime on March 16 last year.

He was accused of raping the teenager while his car was parked in Kilkenny Lane, Carterton, after sending her messages on Facebook.

But it took a jury at Oxford Crown Court less than two hours to return a not guilty verdict. Giving evidence earlier this week Deakin-Hars said he had consensual sex with the girl after she told him she was 17.

He also told the jury that she initiated the sexual encounter by sitting on his lap.

Claire Fraser, defending, asked him: “At any point did she give the impression that she didn’t want sexual intercourse to take place?”

The defendant said: “No.” She also asked: “Did you have any concerns when you were with her that she might be under the age of consent?”

Deakin-Hars said: “No, because she was all dolled up. If I knew she wasn’t even 16 I wouldn’t have picked her up in the first place.”

He admitted one count of driving while disqualified on the same date and was told to do 100 hours’ unpaid work, pay £100 costs and a £60 victims’ surcharge.

Deakin-Hars was also given six penalty points on his licence.