A prison officer was cleared of raping and sexually assaulting a young woman who was with friends. Glenn Coleman has always insisted that sexual activity between the couple was consensual.

Prosecutors alleged former soldier and firefighter Coleman raped a woman at an estate in Cardiff last year after she fell ill while drinking in city center bars and pubs. The 61-year-old man allegedly accompanied the woman to her apartment in a taxi, then undressed her and raped her in bed. The case was reported to the police and the woman, who enjoys legal anonymity for life, later told the police that she had not consented to sexual relations with the accused, whom she described as “old enough to be my wanderer”. . For the latest court reports, subscribe to our crime newsletter here

Coleman, who was working as a prison officer at HMP Parc, near Bridgend, at the time of the incident, was on trial at Cardiff Crown Court, charged with two counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault by penetration and one count of rape. The court heard the defendant say he was “ashamed and embarrassed” by what happened on the night in question and said it would not have happened if both parties had been sober, but insisted the sexual relations were consensual.

The accused, Handy Pontardule, was found not guilty of all charges. Judge Shomon Khan thanked the jury for the care with which they approached the case.

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