A Teesside footballer has told a jury his world came "crashing down" after he was accused of raping a woman in his car. Harry Butters is accused of sexually assaulting a woman after meeting her on a night out and offering her a lift home.

Butters, who plays for Darlington FC under 23s, is currently standing trial at Teesside Crown Court charged with rape, causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, assault by penetration, and sexual assault. The 24-year-old denies the charges.

On Thursday, the charge of false imprisonment was formally withdrawn by the judge after a review. The jury found Butters formally not guilty of that particular offence.

On the third day of the trial, Butters gave evidence and told the jury that he signed for Darlington FC last summer, but

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