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A footballer has been cleared of raping a sleeping woman in Liverpool.

Former Benfica player Sancidinu Da Silva, 20, admitted having sex with a 24-year-old woman last summer, but denied raping her.

During a five-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court, prosecutors alleged he had sex with the woman without her consent.

They said she woke in his flat after having sex with another man, a nightclub promoter called Chris Banner, to find Da Silva on top of her.

The court heard he later apologised and got down on his hands and knees to beg for forgiveness.

But Da Silva, who does not speak English, told the jury he only said sorry because friends said she was upset that he had sex with her.

He said the allegations were false and had ‘destroyed his life’.

He said: “I have never committed any crime. I would never sexually assault a girl. I would never violate a girl. I’m not a bad person.”

The alleged victim, who said she was “very drunk” and had taken cocaine, denied having had sex with Mr Banner.

A jury took just half an hour to find Da Silva not guilty of rape.

Silva sat with his hands clasped in front of him sobbing in the dock.

He did not appear to understand the verdict at first then cried and repeatedly thanked the jury as he left the courtroom.

The Portuguese-speaking forward, who gave his address as Vandyke Street, Toxteth, was in Merseyside ahead of a trial with Scottish giants Celtic.

The Guinea-Bissau international, who moved to Portugal at the age of 10, was staying in a flat in Henry Street with three other footballers when the alleged incident occurred.

He said Mr Banner asked him if he wanted to have sex with the woman, who earlier that night had said he was good looking, and he agreed.

He said she was awake and grabbed at his top before they had “normal sex”, during which she hugged him, but admitted that at no point did they speak.

He said the accusations had ruined his career, adding: “I’m an example to my brothers – my only intention is to play football and to help my family.

“My life is being destroyed because of her. I’ve been eight months without playing since this problem started. I’ve lost everything, just to prove my innocence.

“My mum is always crying because I’m not helping her. The money I receive from playing football is sent back to Africa because I come from a very poor family.

“I would never do such a thing as rape and damage my career or my life.”