Soldier James Walpole and the girl had been in Maidstone's Liquid & Envy

by Keith Hunt

A soldier has been cleared of raping a teenage girl after carrying her from outside a nightclub and taking her to a nearby car park.

The jury is still considering a second charge of sexual assault against James Walpole.

The prosecution alleged the married father-of-one took advantage of the girl while she was incapable and like a "lifeless sack".

Witnesses claimed they saw him kneeling between her legs having intercourse with her.

Walpole, based at Invicta Park Barracks in Maidstone, denied rape and assault by penetration.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Walpole and the teenager had both been in Liquid & Envy at Lockmeadow in the town in January.

Bouncers asked the teenager to leave in the early hours because she appeared to be drunk.

But she told police she only had three double vodkas and Red Bull and she was not drunk. She said she believed her drink had been spiked.

She was feeling unwell, she said, and things became blurred. She went outside and waited for a lift home.

James Walpole was cleared of rape at Maidstone Crown Court

The jury of six men and six women was shown CCTV film of the girl falling over in the club and Walpole sitting next to her and her friend outside.

It also showed him lifting up the teenager and carrying her to a car park next to the David Lloyd gym.

The girl, who cannot be identified, said she did not remember being carried, being touched or having sex with Walpole.

She denied touching the 21-year-old squaddie.

Club waitress Eloise Jeffrey claimed she saw Walpole touching the girl intimately in the car park and having intercourse with her.

Walpole, from Preston, Lancashire, claimed he did not have intercourse with the girl and said she instigated sexual contact.

The jury was sent home for the night and will continue deliberations tomorrow (Thursday).