Joseph Eubank has been cleared of raping a teenage girl on Brighton beach.
Mr Eubank, 27, of Hove, East Sussex, was acquitted of two counts of rape of a 16-year-old girl by a jury after several hours of deliberation at Lewes Crown Court on Friday.
The court had heard how Mr Eubank approached the teenager standing near the seafront because he was attracted to her, and started a conversation, on July 16th, 2022.
They went to a dark, secluded part of the beach and Mr Eubank told jurors during the trial that what took place was “all very fluent and very consensual”.
The prosecution had said that the girl had been drinking vodka with friends celebrating a birthday and had never been drunk like that before and “couldn’t see straight”.
But Mr Eubank, who said he had not drunk alcohol that night, said “she looked completely sober” during their chat near the beach.
After the acquittal, Judge Christine Laing KC told Mr Eubank: “You need to reflect on what you did that night.
“It was not decent behaviour in any way shape or form.”
Speaking to reporters outside court, his solicitor Shahid Choudhry said Mr Eubank was “hugely relieved” to have been found unanimously not guilty by the jury after the allegation had been “hanging over him” for some two and a half years.
Mr Choudhry added: “This has been an extremely difficult time for him and his family.
“Joseph’s life has been at a standstill since he was arrested and he can now move on to rebuild his future.
“Joseph would like to thank his family for his unwavering and unfailing support throughout.”
Sussex Police investigating officer Detective Constable Em Hayler said the force respects the decision of the jury and thanked everyone who assisted in the investigation and court proceedings.
