A 'Good Samaritan' accused of raping a homeless woman has been cleared by a jury.

Stephen Kelly, 60, found the woman sleeping on a bench and offered her a cup of tea “because it was so cold”.

She alleged he then sexually assaulted and raped her at his house in King Street, Margate.

But a jury at Canterbury Crown Court rejected her account and returned not guilty verdicts on all four charges.

Mr Kelly said he had downed between 25 to 30 bottles of cider, six Jagerbombs and eight rum and cokes at the time of the incident.

“On a one to 10 scale of drunk, I was a nine,” he said. “But I don’t drink at home - I am a social drinker. I am a caring person. I am not a nasty person.”

Kelly said he two enjoyed sex play with his alleged victim, but added:”I can’t remember everything that night but I can remember that I never raped her.”