Two former teachers have slammed police over a “botched investigation” after a jury cleared them of rape in less than an hour.
Mark Lett and George Ellis wept in the dock as the jury in Hove found them both not guilty of raping another man following a Christmas night out in Brighton.
Earlier in their trial the judge also threw out assault charges against them.
Speaking after they walked free, the men accused police and prosecutors of ignoring the evidence.
“We are grateful to the jury for finding us innocent on all charges in 41 minutes,” they said.
“They saw what the police and CPS refused to accept.
“In spite of CCTV and a botched police investigation, the allegations were obviously untrue.”
Mr Lett said the trial was the scariest experience of his life.
Mr Lett, 43, and Mr Ellis, 41, were arrested five days after the incident on December 21, 2024.
They had travelled to Brighton to celebrate Christmas in the seaside city.
Mr Lett told police they met the 19-year-old man as he and Mr Ellis walked back to their hotel after 3am.
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He told police the encounter that followed was “100 per cent consensual”.
CCTV which would have provided confirmation of his story was not collected by police, the court was told.
The court heard the teenager thought Mr Lett and Mr Ellis were two men he met earlier in his night out.
He changed his story after CCTV showed he was wrong.
He denied taking drugs on his night out in Brighton despite a positive test for cocaine.
He also refused a full medical examination following the incident.
Mr Lett and Mr Ellis met when they worked in the same school.
The flatmates were remanded following their arrest and spent three months in prison before being granted bail.
Mr Lett resigned as assistant head teacher at the London school he worked in while he was in prison.
He is now working as a delivery driver.
Mr Ellis had been a PE teacher and lost his job in HR after he was remanded.
He has since found another similar job.
Judge Joshua Swirsky thanked the jury and told both men: “I hope you leave the court wiser men.”
Following the trial, Detective Inspector Sean Booth said: “We are aware of the conclusion of a trial involving two defendants accused of the rape of a man and other sexual offences at Hove Crown Court. Following a thorough police investigation, the case has now concluded and we respect the verdict of the jury.”
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