Former police officer cleared of two charges of rape in trial
A judge directed a jury to acquit David Waller, 33, on two charges of raping a 16-year-old girl, saying there was 'insufficient evidence'
Gareth Lightfoot
David Waller (Image: Andy Commins/Daily Mirror)
A former police officer about to give evidence in his trial on allegations of a series of sex offences has been cleared of two rape charges.
David Waller, 33, had been accused of plying a girl, who was in her teens but not underage, with alcohol before raping her several years ago.
The prosecution alleged he had sex with her on several occasions while she was drunk and he was sober.
He denied the two rape charges, maintaining it only happened once and was consensual, Teesside Crown Court had heard.
He has now been found not guilty, on a judge's direction, of the two rape charges concerning that teenage complainant.
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The judge, Recorder Toby Hedworth QC, told jurors: "I have decided as a matter of law that, on two of the counts on this indictment, the evidence is simply insufficient to allow you to consider the allegations further.
"In my judgment there is simply insufficient evidence to allow you to go on to consider whether or not that consent was absent.
"I have a duty to direct you to return verdicts of not-guilty on those two counts."
Teesside Crown Court (Image: Teesside Live)
On the judge's direction, the jury formally acquitted Waller of the two rape charges.
He remains on trial for 11 other charges concerning seven other female complainants between 2004 and 2016.
Waller, who served with Cleveland Police between 2006 and 2010, is accused of 10 sexual offences against six people.
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The Crown says he groomed three underage girls leading to sex with one, touched another underage girl and raped another teenager who was not underage.
It is also alleged he sexually assaulted a woman and had consensual sex with another woman whom he went to see while working as a PC.
Waller denies three charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, three of meeting or attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming, one of rape, two of sexual activity with a child, one of sexual assault and one of misconduct in a public office.
"What you conclude on the remaining counts will be entirely a matter for you," the judge told the jury.
Waller, of Autumn Grove, Fairfield, Stockton, is expected to give evidence in the witness box on Friday.
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