A footballer has been cleared of raping and sexually assaulting a woman he had met on a dating app.
Sunderland winger Jack Diamond, 23, had denied attacking the woman at his home in Fatfield, Washington, on 7 May 2022.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the pair had a casual sexual relationship after meeting in 2019.
Mr Diamond had claimed all activity was consensual. His lawyer said the past 18 months had been a “nightmare” for the winger.
The court had heard Mr Diamond and the woman, who cannot be identified, had an on-off relationship which was “95%” sex.
On 7 May she went to his home for a “cuddle” but claimed the footballer “tried to force himself” upon her.
‘Mr Diamond to Resume footballing activity for Sunderland’
Mr Diamond said the encounter was entirely consensual and he stopped touching her when she asked him to.
His legal team argued the woman developed feelings for him and was upset when he did not want to make their relationship more serious.
Mr Diamond’s lawyer Eleanor Laws KC said the winger, who was suspended by Sunderland and had a loan spell at Lincoln City cancelled after he was charged in March 2023, had endured a “nightmare”.
The jury of nine women and three men took less than an hour to reach not guilty verdicts on both counts.
There were cheers from the public gallery and Mr Diamond looked visibly relieved when the verdict was announced.
A spokesman for Sunderland said Mr Diamond, who also previously had loan spells at Harrogate Town, would return to the Academy of Light and “resume footballing activity”.
