Former University Challenge student cleared of rape

Bartolomeo Joly de Lotbiniere had been accused of attacking a woman in 2014

Bartolomeo Joly de Lotbiniere was found not guilty at Bradford Crown Court (PA)

A former contestant on University Challenge has been acquitted of raping a woman at York University.

Former student Bartolomeo Joly de Lotbiniere, 22, had been accused of assaulting a woman in 2014.

He was found not guilty of rape and assault by penetration at a retrial at Bradford Crown Court, after a jury at his original trial in February failed to reach a verdict.

Mr Joly de Lotbiniere had been accused of attacking a woman at her halls of residence after the pair had been out in York.

The couple began to kiss and Mr Joly de Lotbiniere went to get a condom, but struggled to get an erection and the two agreed to stop.

“We both just agreed to stop. I think she said ‘let’s just stop’,” he told a jury.

Mr Joly de Lotbiniere said the woman did not try to stop him or push him away, but said he was embarrassed by what had happened.

The court was told he sent texts to the woman, one of which said: “I was a disgrace, I did a very stupid thing and I am very sorry for what I did.”

The defendant said he was referring to being ashamed by the incident, saying it was only his second sexual encounter and he was not comfortable with having a one night stand.

The woman, now 22, had gone to the police after seeing Mr Joly de Lotbiniere on the BBC programme University Challenge in 2015 and had got “angry and upset”.