A University Challenge contestant broke down in tears yesterday as he was cleared of raping a student at York University.

Bartholomeo Joly de Lotbiniere, 22, was found not guilty of rape and assault by penetration by a jury following 17 month ordeal culminating at a retrial at Bradford Crown Court.

The defendant, who was studying at York during the time of the incident before moving to London last year to study at UCL, wiped away tears with a handkerchief as he was cleared of the charges.

His family, who have been present throughout the trial, also shouted out in relief as the verdict was read out.

Mr Joly de Lotbiniere, a historian who appeared on the popular quiz show in 2015, had been forced to endure a second trial after a jury failed to reach a verdict in February. He was charged with rape in May 2016.

During his trial, he told the court that the incident, which took place at York University in 2014, had been a consensual sexual encounter with a fellow student.

However, he added that it had been embarrassing due to his failure to perform.

The woman, now 22, only reported Mr Joly de Lotbiniere when she saw him starring on the television programme the following year.