A RUGBY coach accused of pinning a teenager to his bed and raping her has been cleared after a jury failed to reach a verdict for the second time.

Prosecutors said after the jury panel was discharged at Oxford Crown Court yesterday that Tom Clipsham, of Vale Avenue, Grove, will not face a third trial for the single count of rape.

Despite being given a majority direction about midday - in which 10 of the 12 jurors can agree a verdict, shortly after 2pm the panel was sent home when it became clear no majority decision could be reached.

Mr Charles Ward-Jackson, on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service, formally offered no evidence and a not guilty verdict was entered after jurors deliberated for more than nine hours.

During the trial which began last week jurors were told that the 30-year old had carried out the alleged rape at his then-Barwell home in the early hours of March 5 last year.

The court heard that Mr Clipsham had been 'angry' after a row with his absent wife before setting upon the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

He had always denied the charge and took to the witness box to profess his innocence last week.

He told jurors: "I did have sex with her yes, she consented yes. I invited her to my room I am not going to deny that fact.

“She showed interest upstairs, she came into my room."

Clipsham told jurors that he kissed her before closing the door to his bedroom and undressing her, and explained: “The vibe had changed between us. There was the impression that she wanted to be in there.”

He went on to agree that the pair had had consensual sex in various positions and said: “On the spectrum of calm to wild it was somewhere in the middle.”

Speaking of the assertion that there had been a row with his wife that night, Clipsham said there had not been any animosity with her and told the court ‘everything was fine’ and that she was aware he had been out that night.

Jurors also heard defence barrister Adrian Amer read out a number of character references which spoke highly of Clipsham.

He was described by numerous people as a loyal and trustworthy man who was heavily involved in community activities, particularly as a rugby coach.

His first trial ended in June with a hung jury after jurors failed to reach a verdict after 13 hours and 19 minutes.