Nicholas Crawshaw was found not guilty of six counts of rape against two women.

The 23-year-old, of West Street, Hoole, was also cleared of one count of sexual assault and another of assault by penetration from June 2015.

After 10 hours and five minutes of deliberations spanning three days, the jury returned with the not guilty verdicts at Warrington Crown Court on Friday (March 4).

The foreman said they would be unable to reach a decision on a further eight counts against the defendant and Judge Tina Landale dismissed them from service.

Recap: Read Mike Fuller's live updates from Warrington Crown Court

Judge Landale said: "Mr Crawshaw, due to the jury having failed to reach verdicts on the remaining counts, there will have to be a retrial but in the meantime you must remain in custody."

Crawshaw, dressed smartly as he had been throughout the three-week trial, wept in the dock as the verdicts were read out.

The prosecution said it would seek a retrial on four counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and two counts of assault by penetration concerning five alleged victims from between 2010 and 2012.