Woman sues man cleared of raping her

An attempt to grant anonymity in a civil case to a man acquitted of rape has been rejected.

Stephen Coxen, from Bury in Lancashire, is being sued for £100,000 in damages by a woman he was alleged to have raped in St Andrews in 2013.

Coxen, 23, denied the charges and in 2015 the case was found not proven, which in Scots law is an acquittal.

Now, his alleged victim has launched a civil action which is being heard at the Personal Injury Court in Edinburgh.

Coxen’s lawyers argued yesterday he should be granted anonymity, but this was refused by Sheriff Kenneth Mcgowan due to the publicity from his previous High Court trial.

Sheriff Mcgowan said: “It seems unlikely that the granting of such an order would have any practical effect.”

Coxen’s lawyers also tried to have the case moved to the Court of Session but the motion was refused over fears it would delay proceedings.