Witham rape trial concludes as jury clears Charlie Lawrence

Charlie Lawrence, 32, was cleared of the single charge on Friday afternoon, with the jury returning a verdict less than an hour after being discharged.

The trial opened at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday when a jury was officially sworn in to hear the case, which related to an allegation of rape made in April 2021.

It was then that Lawrence had intercourse with a woman at an address in Witham before he left in the early hours of April 30.

The woman alleged she was raped and went on to give a police interview – which was recorded and played to the jury as part of the trial – describing her version of events.

Judge Cohen summed up the evidence before the jury began deliberations on Friday morning.

Denied - Charlie Lawrence, 32, denied the charge from the outset (Image: Newsquest)

She said: “[The woman] was asked why it took her 25 minutes to send the online report to the police; she said it took her some time to sort herself out and was trying to piece together what happened.

“It was then put to her that she had bumped into Charlie in the shop that day, and she invited him round.

“It was put to her it wasn’t a coincidence she left the front door unlocked because she expected Charlie to come round that evening.”

The court heard earlier in the trial the woman had “no expectation” of intercourse that evening.

Trial - the jury was sworn in on Tuesday (Image: Google Street View)

Kate Davey, prosecuting, said: “She had no expectation of intercourse that evening, and no expectation he would come round.

“Normally, she would lock her door so someone can’t come in from the outside, but she didn’t put the latch down that evening.”

During the trial, a toxicology report which detailed the amount of alcohol in the woman’s blood was summarised to the jury, and it was calculated that the amount of alcohol would have been three times over the legal limit had she been driving.

A toxicologist said there was also evidence of cocaine use.

After a 50-minute deliberation, the jury cleared Lawrence of all wrongdoing.