A police officer and former Mr Gay UK wept and retched in the dock as he was cleared yesterday of raping a man and carrying out two sexual assaults.

Supporters of PC Mark Carter clapped and cheered in the public gallery as a jury cleared him of a number of counts at Leeds Crown Court.

PC Carter, 28, had been on trial charged with sexually assaulting three men and raping a fourth while on a Christmas night out with colleagues.

He was cleared of two rape charges and two sexual assault charges.

The jury failed to reach a verdict on another sexual assault charge.

A decision on whether to proceed with a retrial on that charge will be made next week.

When he gave evidence in the trial, the officer described the “devastating” impact allegations of rape and sexual assault had on his life.

He admitted he had “stupidly” drunk too much on the night out but denied carrying out the assaults.

Describing the effect the allegations had on his life, he told the jury: “It had a devastating effect on me.

“It turned my whole life upside down. I embarked on an absolute living nightmare.”

The officer was accused of dragging one man by the hair and raping him in a hotel room.

PC Carter denied being violent, telling Leeds Crown Court: “I’m not a violent person.

“We had gone back for mutual pleasure, a sexual encounter. I didn’t take him back to beat him up.”

PC Carter, of Station Lane, Birkenshaw, Bradford, is a gay officer with West Yorkshire Police and a former holder of the Mr Gay UK title.

He told the court his colleagues were aware of his sexuality and supportive, although he said he did come across “individuals with bigoted views”.

“Everybody knows basically that I’m gay,” he told the court.

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