Alex Hepburn rape trial collapses after jury fail to reach verdict

The judge told the jury that he would accept a majority verdict on whether Hepburn was guilty of the two counts of rape he had been charged with

The trial of Worcestershire allrounder Alex Hepburn has collapsed after the jury failed to reach a verdict.

Hepburn, 23, was accused of raping a sleeping woman shortly after she had sex with his friend and team-mate Joe Clarke at the cricketers' flat in April 2017.

He was charged with two counts of rape both of which he denies.

On the fifth day of the trial at Worcester Crown Court, the judge Jim Tindal told jurors that he would accept a majority verdict of 10-2.

However, the jury was eventually discharged by the judge after failing to reach a verdict.

The Crown Prosecution Service now has two weeks to decide whether they wish to pursue a retrial.

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