Teacher, 32, cleared of Christmas party rape

A TEACHER has been found not guilty of raping a woman during a Christmas party at a weightlifting gym.

A jury was unable to reach verdicts in respect of accusations regarding another woman.

Jack Crosse, 32, of Heol Ysgubor, Caerphilly, was found not guilty of one count of rape yesterday following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

Charges relating to the alleged vaginal rape and oral rape of another complainant were considered by a jury but they were unable to reach a conclusion.

The defendant, a maths teacher at Llanishen High School in Cardiff, was alleged to have raped two women at the Willpower Weightlifting gym in Pontypool on December 13 and early hours of December 14, 2019.

The gym had been turned into a makeshift bar and dance floor and Crosse was described by those who attended the party as “intoxicated” and acting in a “sexually inappropriate way”.

It was alleged he raped one victim in an outbuilding after she gave him consensual oral sex but he was acquitted of this charge.

He was also accused of later raping another victim in the same room, which he denied, claiming sex with both of the women was consensual.

Judge Michael Fitton QC thanked the jury for their work on the case and discharged them.

A mention hearing will take place on June 9, when it will be decided whether the case will proceed to a retrial in respect of the two remaining charges.