A STROUD schoolboy accused of raping a 12 year old girl in a cemetery was cleared by a jury at Gloucester crown court today, Friday.

The boy initially showed little reaction to the verdict but after turning to look at his parents sitting behind him he held his hands to his face and wiped away tears.

He was then discharged by Judge Jamie Tabor QC who thanked the jury for their work during the three day trial, adding "These cases are very difficult. Not pleasant either. In fact they are desperately sad."

The boy had denied raping the girl between May 30 and July 31 last year when he was 15 years old and she was 12. They were pupils at the same school.

The prosecution alleged he committed the offence after he asked the girl to meet him in a cemetery to talk about a friend of hers whom he wanted to go out with. He was hoping she would put in a good word for him, the court heard.

Prosecutor Sarah Regan alleged that while talking to the girl the boy put his hand up her top, touching her breasts over her bra. He then allegedly grabbed her by the arm and pushed her up against a wall.

Ms Regan claimed he then undid his trousers and pulled down her shorts and underwear before raping her.

She was finally able to fight him off and leave and she said nothing about what had allegedly happened until after she had a sex education lesson at school two weeks later which made her fear she might be pregnant.

She then made the rape allegation to a teacher at school and police were called.

In evidence the boy was in tears as he told the jury he did not have any kind of sexual contact with her.

He said the pair had kissed once or twice, but fell out as he kept going on about her friend. He said he had no idea why she would make it up.

His barrister, Fiona Elder, told the jury: "Why on earth would he do this? We are not talking about a couple of teenagers that have done a bit of inappropriate fumbling. What has been alleged is not some ill-advised fumbling, but a full on violent sexual assault. Why would it happen?

"He might have been a bit embarrassed talking to the police and to you about his feelings, but one thing that is agreed was the fact he was entirely into her friend and not her.

"How does forcing yourself on her friend get him anywhere?"