Navy officer cleared of rape

A SENIOR naval policeman in charge of security on a Royal Navy warship was yesterday cleared of raping a 20- year-old woman guest after a party in the chief petty officer's mess.

Barry Chamberlain, 41, of Sawtry, Cambridgeshire, Master at Arms on HMS Marlborough when it visited London last year, was also cleared of attempting to rape the Ministry of Defence clerk and indecent assault.

The clerk had said she was a virgin at the time and alleged Mr Chamberlain assaulted her in his cabin after showing her the ship. He said she consented to sex.