Footballer, Jack Diamond has been cleared of raping a woman with whom he had a casual sexual relationship.
Mr Diamond, winger for Sunderland was charged with raping and sexually assaulting the woman at his home in Fatfield, Washington, on 7 May 2022. He denied the charges, asserting that the pair had a casual sexual relationship after matching on a dating app in 2019 and that all sexual activity had been consensual.
On the 7th May the woman claimed that she went to Mr Diamond's home for a "cuddle" but that the footballed had tried to "force himself" upon her. Mr Diamond said the encounter was entirely consensual and that he stopped touching her when she asked him to. It was suggested that the woman had developed feelings for him and was upset when he did not want to make their relationship more serious.
Mr Diamond's barrister, Eleanor Laws KC of QEB Hollis Whiteman, said the winger, who was suspended by Sunderland and had a loan spell at Lincoln City cancelled after he was charged in March 2023, had endured a "nightmare".
The jury were out for 7 minutes before unanimously acquitting him of all charges.
Eleanor Laws KC was instructed by Philip Williams of Blackfords LLP. She was supported by Gareth Darbyshire of Selwyn Chambers.
Eleanor Laws KC