Durham University rape trial: Louis Richardson cleared Published duration 12 January 2016

image copyright PA image caption Louis Richardson's family said they had been through hell

A former secretary of Durham University's Union Society has been cleared of raping a student and sexually assaulting another.

Louis Richardson, 21, from Jersey, had denied raping one woman at his home in March 2014 and sexually assaulting another at a house party in October.

Mr Richardson was accused of raping the fellow student while she was "crazy drunk" and unable to consent.

His family said they had been through 15 months of "absolute hell".

A jury at Durham Crown Court took less than three hours to clear him of all charges following a six-day trial.

Outside court, he hugged his mother who had sat through the trial with his father and grandfather.

In a family statement outside court, they said: "It has been 15 months of absolute hell for the whole family.