A former British Army corporal broke down in tears as a jury cleared him of trying to rape a businesswoman at a luxury hotel.

Jonathan Brockhouse, 34, sobbed in the dock at Hove Crown Court as the jury of nine women and three men unanimously acquitted him of attempted rape and indecent assault after a six-day trial.

Brockhouse had denied attacking the woman, who he met while attending a family birthday party at the De Vere Grand hotel in Kings Road, Brighton, in September last year.

The saleswoman invited him to her bedroom at the five-star seafront hotel at 2.30am so they could talk and told the jury she made it clear she did not want sex.

She alleged when she rejected his advances he tried to force himself on her. She struggled and screamed and he left.

Brockhouse, who was wearing his uniform and medals on the night of the alleged attack, said she was lying.

He said after kissing for a few minutes she became angry when he wanted to leave to return to his brother's birthday celebrations.

He said she launched herself at him to stop him from leaving the room and he was forced to restrain her to calm her down.

The court heard Brockhouse, of Beehive Walk, Portsmouth, has since left the army and now works as a professional sailor.