A former student who raised a civil action against a man who was cleared of raping her has been awarded damages of £80,000 in a landmark case.

The woman, a second year student at St Andrews University at the time, said she woke after drinking too much during freshers’ week to find she was being raped by 23-year-old Stephen Coxen.

Following the ruling she appealed to other women who found themselves in a similar position to “speak up”.

Mr Coxen, from Bury, Greater Manchester, was acquitted of a charge of rape in 2015 after a jury returned a “not proven” verdict.

The woman, known only as Miss M, then raised a civil action at the Personal Injury Court in Edinburgh in what is believed to be the first case of its kind in Scotland.

Sheriff Robert Weir said in his ruling that her evidence was "cogent, compelling and persuasive".

He found that Mr Coxen took advantage of her when she was incapable of giving meaningful consent because of the effects of alcohol.