A teenager has been convicted for the second time of raping a girl in a graveyard.

Alex Maynard, 18, was originally found guilty of raping his victim in the graveyard of St Nicholas Church in Dyke Road, Brighton, after a trial in July last year.

He was jailed for four and a half years but the conviction was overturned for legal reasons in April this year and the Appeal Court ordered a re-trial.

A jury of seven men and four women at Hove Crown Court found him guilty for the second time by a majority of ten to one yesterday.

But he was unanimously cleared of trying to intimidate the victim and her boyfriend in a phone call made while he was on remand at Lewes prison in June.

Judge Guy Anthony jailed Maynard again for four and a half years for the rape and ordered him to sign the sex offenders' register for life.

Maynard, of The Crescent, Bevendean, Brighton, will have to serve half the sentence, which runs from the original conviction in June 2005, before he can be released on licence.

During the ten-day re-trial the court heard the attack was filmed by a couple whose home overlooks the graveyard.

They were collecting evidence of anti-social behaviour in the graveyard to hand to police and council officers.

The couple did not realise they had witnessed a rape until police sealed off the area the morning after the attack in January, 2005.

Maynard had denied rape. He claimed his victim went to the church with him after leaving a birthday party at the Planet night club in North Street.

The girl, who was 16 at the time, repeatedly broke down in tears as she was forced to re-live her ordeal during the second trial. An expert lip reader who examined the video said she could see the victim telling him: "I don't want to."

The court heard he has previous convictions for a sex assault on a teenage girl at a bus stop at Churchill Square, Brighton, in November 2004.

He was also found guilty of fracturing the cheek of one of the girl's friends who tried to help her in November 2004.

Maynard was also convicted of homophobic attacks on two men in August 2004.

Jeffrey Lamb, defending, urged the judge to impose a shorter sentence than at the first trial because of Maynard's age.

Judge Guy Anthony said: "Some might think the sentenced passed last time was on the merciful side.

"Not because of the length of it but because it was concurrent for other sentences you were serving for serious offences.

"It does not seem to me that it would be proper for me to go back on that merciful decision.

"Equally, I can see no reason why a shorter sentence should be passed."

After the verdict acting DCI Ian Pollard said: "The victim has given her evidence twice and been cross examined twice.

"She has remained determined to see Alex Maynard convicted for the frightening and humiliating ordeal he put her through. She made it clear that she did not consent to sex but Maynard was not prepared to take no for an answer.

"I hope she can now begin to put this whole dreadful ordeal behind her so she can get on with her life."