A barman has been cleared of kidnapping a pub drinker's daughter at knifepoint and raping her after allegedly tying her up with her own shoelaces.

Stephen Potter, 35, was accused of preying on the 16-year-old blonde after being invited back to her father's home for an after-hours drink.

But a jury at Lewes Crown Court yesterday cleared him of two rapes and kidnapping after deliberating for almost 12 hours.

Potter held his head in his hands and breathed a sigh of relief as the verdicts were delivered.

But there was a disturbance in the court as he was taken down to cells before being released.

During the week-long trial the jury had been told that Potter returned to a drinker's flat after chatting to him and his daughter at the pub where he worked in Portslade.

The trio drank vodka and smoked cannabis together at the apartment and he said when he left the girl offered to walk him home and they ended up having sex.

However, the girl claimed that Potter had produced a blade and grabbed her from behind.

She claimed he raped her after tying her hands together with her shoelaces and then marched her three miles along the seafront before raping her for a second time.

Potter, 35, of Olive Road, Portslade, admitted having sex with the 16-year-old but told the court it was not against her will.

Glaswegian Potter told the court she had left the flat with him of her own accord, saying she would walk him home.

He said minutes later, the pair had began kissing and 'getting intimate' behind a block of flats before she asked to be tied up.

Potter was asked by his barrister, Christopher Sallon QC, if he had sex with the girl, to which he answered "yes".

He was then asked if he had had sex without her consent, held her against her will and threatened her with a knife. Potter answered "no" to all the questions.