AN aristocrat was today cleared of raping a 16-year-old girl.

The Hon James Murray, 42, the son of the Earl of Mansfield, said he had a consensual sexual relationship with the girl, who is now 17.

A jury at Oxford Crown Court, who heard prosecution claims that Old Etonian Mr Murray carried out the rape in June 2010 after getting the girl drunk on vodka, took just under an hour to clear him.

Mr Murray, previously of North Oxford, now lives at Logie Drive, Logiealmond, Perth.