A police officer failed to reveal incriminating evidence about a victim who accused four agricultural students of rape because he had become her “confidante”, a court was told.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC also criticised the Crown Prosecution Service for their handling of the gang rape case which saw the defendants put through two years of hell before they were finally cleared.

At Gloucester Crown Court, Judge Tabor said Detective Constable Ben Lewis got too close to the complainant and did not understand his job properly.

This led to "stark and very serious omissions" by the officer in failing to disclose "game changing" evidence.

The court also heard how the detective had discussed the victim’s sexual behaviour with her and was aware of a naked photograph she had sent to one of the defendants in the weeks before the incident.