A PENGE man accused of rape was cleared by an Old Bailey jury in just 30 minutes.

A 40-year-old woman reported to police that Paul Finn, of Seamour Villas, had raped her after a bust-up with his girlfriend on February 28 this year.

The mother-of-two, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claimed 32-year-old Mr Finn had attacked her at her Croydon home as her children slept upstairs.

Mr Finn told the jury last Thursday the woman had invented the story in a bid to destroy his relationship with his partner.

He denied sexual intercourse took place.

October 1, 2001 16:11