A Salvation Army minister has been cleared of raping a schoolgirl.

But Stephen Wilkes still faces two charges of indecent assault on the girl when she was just 13.

The judge at his trial directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict after hearing legal argument at the end of the prosecution case.

Judge David Rennie told the jury at Hove Crown Court one of the things they had to consider was whether the alleged victim had consented to sex.

He said: "I have considered the evidence and on that point it is tenuous and speculative.

"I direct you to acquit him on the count or rape and the trial will proceed on the remaining counts."

Wilkes, 45, was a lieutenant with the Salvation Army living in Crawley at the time the alleged assaults took place.

The girl, now a 30-year-old woman, claimed the attacks occurred after she turned to him for support during some family problems.

She alleged Wilkes undressed her while still wearing his uniform and had raped her during a lunchtime visit to his flat.

Jenny Dempster, defending, asked Wilkes if any of the allegations she had made were true. He replied: "No, absolutely not."

Earlier the court heard from the girl's best friend at the time that Wilkes was known to them as The Rev.

She said her friend had revealed to her that she had "lost her virginity to The Rev" during a chat at school.

The trial continues.