An 'outstanding' Cambridge university undergraduate has been found not guilty of raping a fellow student in her room following a night out.

Prithvi Sridhar, 21, moved to the UK from India for a better education but was forced to 'put his life on hold' for a year after being accused of assaulting the alleged victim in November 2014.

He took a gap year from the prestigious Queens' College, where he was on course to achieve a first in engineering, to prepare his desperate bid to prove his innocence.

Prithvi Sridhar, pictured, was found not guilty of raping a fellow student by a jury at Cambridge Crown Court

Sridhar, pictured, denied the allegations told the court he would never have sex without the proper consent

Sridhar was reading engineering at Queens' College in Cambridge when the rape allegation was made

He now plans to return to his lectures and complete his engineering degree, with the support of the university.

Sridhar's alleged victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told a court that he forced himself upon her after returning to her room, leaving huge love bites on her neck.

She claimed she tried to get away but he kept pulling her back and raped her as tears ran down her face.

But the jury at Cambridge Crown Court dismissed her claims and this afternoon found Sridhar not guilty of rape.

The complainant was studying at a different Cambridge college.

Speaking outside course shortly after the verdict, his father Mr Sridhar said: 'We are all extremely relieved and we are very, very happy.'

A statement released by the family added: 'Prithvi Sridhar and his family are grateful today for the Jury's verdict clearing his name of these false allegations.

'Prithvi would like to thank the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence and fair deliberation in this trial; his family and friends who have supported him throughout these difficult times; Queens College who have supported him throughout the proceedings and his defence team from MPR Solicitors and Joe Stone QC.

'Since he was first interviewed on the January 16, 2015, when these allegations were first put to him his life has been devastated.

Sridhar said it was his intention to return to Queens' College, pictured, in order to complete his degree in engineering where he is on course for a First.

'He has had to take a gap year from Queens' College where he had achieved a first in his first two years and put his life on hold in order to prepare for his trial.

'Prithvi looks forward now to moving on with his life and completing his degree and studies at Queens College.'

Sridhar received the highest marks in the world for economics in the Cambridge-affiliated Outstanding Cambridge Learner award, while a student at Mallya Aditi International School in Bangalore, India, in 2012.

He also received awards for the highest marks in India in chemistry, mathematics and physics in the Cambridge International Examinations.

The exams are run by Cambridge Assessment, a non-teaching department of the University of Cambridge.

Sridhar, who is of Indian nationality, first arrived in the UK in October 2013.

The allegations came after a night out in November 4, when 'there was a fair amount of drinking involved'.

Prosecutor David Matthew told how the pair moved on to a club where Sridhar 'persistently wanted to dance with her and they were hugging and kissing.'

He then offered to walk the girl home because 'she was nervous about walking home alone' before the pair shared a taxi back to her halls of residence where Sridhar began kissing her.

Mr Matthew told the jury: 'They got into bed both fully dressed but she says she felt pushed along.

'Up to this stage they both agreed to the physical contact.'

The alleged victim added: 'I told him I did not want anything to happen. He kissed my neck and left huge hickies.

'He decided he wanted to have sex but I told him to stop and I tried to push him off.

'I started crying because it was really hurting. I tried to get up to go to the toilet but he was pulling me down.'

Cambridge Crown Court, pictured, heard the allegation followed a drunken night out in November 4, 2014

Mr Matthew told the court how Sridhar then allegedly forced himself upon the woman, causing her pain.

But his barrister Joe Stone told the jury how the woman had got back in bed with Sridhar after the alleged rape.

He said: 'Surely if she was raped, the last place on earth she would want to return to would be that room.'

Giving evidence, Sridhar's godfather Sian Gopinath, 48, said: 'Nothing has ever caused me concern in regards to his interaction with women. He went to the same school as my daughter.'

Coursemate Mark Jerjain, 20, said Sridhar was 'kind and good natured'.

'He knew it was wrong and understood how I felt. This made me think he had a good moral compass.'

Sridhar was visibly emotional and hugged his family and friends as he left the courtroom.

His mother and father were crying in the public gallery after the 'not guilty' verdict was read out.

His father Mr Sridhar added: 'His life could have been ruined by this allegation but we're glad he can now get back on track.'