Cricketer Alex Hepburn Found Guilty Of R*pe After Attacking Sleeping Woman

Cricketer Alex Hepburn has been found guilty of oral rape after attacking a sleeping woman during a sexual conquest "game".

The 23-year-old, who gave himself the boastful nickname "The Battery" in Whatsapp messages, was cleared by a jury of a second rape charge relating to the same victim.

The ex-Worcestershire CCC all-rounder had denied both allegations relating to an alleged attack in the early hours of April 1, 2017, at his flat in Worcester.

Jurors at Worcester Crown Court deliberated for 10 hours and 53 minutes before delivering a unanimous verdict.

Hepburn sighed and then slumped into his seat, covered his face with his hands and sobbed after the verdict was returned by the foreman.

He was cleared of a second count of rape and will be sentenced at Hereford Crown Court on April 30.

Prosecutors alleged Hepburn began to rape the woman while she was asleep after getting into her bed, where she had earlier had consensual sex with his then team-mate Joe Clarke.

The complainant, who cannot be identified, earlier told the court she was left shocked and distressed after opening her eyes and realising she was having sex with Hepburn and not Clarke, who was asleep elsewhere in the flat.

The complainant said she then locked herself naked in the bathroom before returning to Hepburn to tell him: "You just found me asleep and took advantage of me".

Hepburn told the retrial that the woman made eye contact with him and then kissed him, instigating a consensual sexual encounter lasting around 20 minutes.