A Belfast man has been cleared by Belfast Crown Court of raping his former girlfriend after breaking into her home last August.
The acquittal of Mr William James Massey (29) came as he was about to stand trial for the third time on charges of raping the woman after breaking into her north Belfast home last August.
Judge Patrick Markey was told that the prosecution was offering no evidence. Mr Massey was cleared after Judge Markey directed the jury to acquit him.
Mr Massey, who was remanded in custody to await trial on other unrelated charges, always claimed that his former girlfriend had invited him to have sex and suggested he break into her home. During earlier trials the court heard she first made a rape allegation in December, 1992, but later withdrew the complaint.