A former student accused of raping a female friend after a drunken night out has been cleared of wrongdoing - following a three-year court ordeal.

Company director's son Joshua Lines was just 20 when he was held by police after he was invited to stay in the woman's room at Manchester University halls of residence - having spent the evening drinking beer and Prosecco with her at a student house party.

The pair fell asleep together while watching the Disney movie Lady and the Tramp. She claimed she was woken up several hours later by the sound of a laptop falling off her bed to find herself on top of Mr Lines with her pyjama bottoms pulled down and him having sex with her.

She said she fled in tears to her en-suite bathroom and locked herself inside for several hours until she was sure he had left the room.

Mr Lines later tried to contact her on Facebook, sending her a message saying: 'What's happened', to which she replied: 'I don't want anything to do with you.'

Mr Lines, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, who claimed he had been too drunk to remember whether the pair had sex, was later charged with rape over the encounter in November 2014.

Joshua Lines, 20, from Wigan, accused of raping a female student friend after a drunken night out was yesterday cleared of wrongdoing - following a three-year court ordeal

Mr Lines has now been cleared of all charges and a verdict of not guilty has been recorded following the result

He sat through two trials where both he and his accuser gave evidence and which culminated in jurors in both cases failing to agree on a verdict.

A medical examination carried out on the woman several days later showed no traces of his DNA.

Yesterday at Manchester Crown Court Mr Lines, now 23, was formally cleared on rape when prosecutors said they would not be seeking a third trial after speaking to the woman, also 23, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Prosecutor Justin Hayhoe said: 'I have liaised with the CPS and taken the view of the parties. The crown do not seek to persuade the court that this is an exceptional case. In these circumstances I offer no evidence.'

Mr Lines looked visibly relieved when he learnt the case was over. He declined to comment after the hearing.

The judge Recorder Rowena Goode told him: 'We have heard what has been said that means we must draw a line under this matter. May I remind parties that the complainant will receive lifetime anonymity.'

Mr Lines had been accused of raping his friend in her university dormitory while she slept after the pair of them had been drinking and watching a movie together

The jury had been told Lines and the woman had been friends for three years.

While he was attracted to her she said she didn't share his feelings and the relationship was platonic.

The incident occurred when he visited the woman, then 20, and they went to a house party together, where it was said she became upset at seeing a boy she liked kissing another girl.

Lines, arrived at Manchester Crown Court, has now been cleared of wrongdoing

In a videoed statement to police the woman said: 'I remember everything that happened and I know I was not drunk.

'When we got back we decided to watch a film. I went to the bathroom and got changed and Josh was already in the bed.

'I put the film on and I remember before falling asleep that he turned me to face him and cuddled me but that was nothing unusual. I assume we fell asleep like that.

'But I woke up on top of him and he was having sex with me and I was in shock and I started crying. Initially he froze and I said: 'I know what you have just done,' and I went into the bath room and locked the door. Josh came to the door and said stuff to me but I couldn't hear, he then left the flat.

'He sent me a Facebook message saying: 'What's happened' to which I replied: 'I don't want anything to do with you, go back to the house party, I'm sure someone will let you crash there.'

'I think my laptop fell on the floor and that is what woke me up, I was on the top of him and he was having sex with me. I woke up and I was in shock and I started crying, initially he froze. Josh came to the door and tried speaking to me and when I left the bathroom he had gone.

'I went home on the Saturday and whilst I was at home I didn't think about it but when I came back to Manchester it was hard. I mentioned it to a few people who said I had to do something. On the Thursday I woke up and thought I had to do something.'

Mr Lines has been cleared of raping a university friend after juries were unable to reach a verdict in two separate trials spanning a three-year-period

Mr Lines told the court: 'When we got to the party she was flirtatious when I was speaking to other people. I do not recall whether she was upset about seeing a boy she liked kissing another girl or whether there was any particular reason for us leaving the party other than that she seemed to be a bit frustrated.

'When we were walking back to the flat we were both stumbling, and I had to hold her up. I felt drunk at that point and when I got into her room. She wasn't paralytic but she stumbled a little and I had to put my hand on her shoulder.

'When we got back to her flat I said I would sleep in the bath and she said: 'Don't be silly' and so it was her idea for me to sleep in the bed.

'We had slept in the same bed before and I thought it was fine so I took my jeans off and was wearing my t-shirt and boxer shorts and she changed into her pyjamas.

'When the film was put on I begun to feel funny and the room was spinning - she was a bit tipsy too. I then fell asleep and when I woke up she had her head on my chest. I tried to move her out of the way but she was draped over me with her legs either side.

'I left to be sick and ended up in the basement. I don't believe I could have done what she said I did because of the logistics of it. She woke up on top of me with her legs either side, how would I get her there?'

A female friend of Mr Lines, Melissa Pruntey, told the court: 'I know he would do anything to help his friends and I find it hard to understand the charge because it is so out of character.

'He has always treated girls with respect and had never taken advantage of anyone. We have both slept in the same bed when intoxicated and not once did I worry that he would act inappropriately with me.'