Curry house owner cleared of rape and assault charges

A CURRY house owner has been cleared of raping a vulnerable man in his Bristol home.

Lutfur Rahman, boss of the British Raj in Westbury-on-Trym, initially denied all charges after the man said he was sexually attacked when alone in his home.

But when evidence found in the home matched Rahman’s DNA profile, the 63-year-old restaurateur said the two of them had had consensual sexual activity.

Rahman, of St Edyths Road in Bristol, denied sexual assault and rape in June last year.

A jury at Bristol Crown Court unanimously found him not guilty of both charges.

James Haskell, prosecuting, said the complainant reported that a man pushed into his home and sexually abused him.

The complainant’s key worker reported the alleged abuse to police.

Mr Rahman was arrested and told police he didn’t know the complainant and had not been to his address.

He said he had been married 30 years, his relationship with his wife was very good and he didn’t find men sexually attractive.

But when forensic evidence was uncovered linking Mr Rahman to the scene, Rahman failed to answer questions.

He then said there was consensual sexual activity between him and the complainant that day.