A STUDENT has been cleared of a sex attack at Pershore College's annual Christmas ball.

Liam Booles was accused by another 18-year-old student of putting his hand up her skirt and groping her in the grounds on the way back to her accommodation block.

But a jury of seven women and five men took just over an hour at the end of a four-day trial to find the teenager not guilty of assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault.

Gerald Bermingham alleged that horticulture student Mr Booles, of St Anne's Road, Shrewsbury, touched the victim three times without her consent.

She gave evidence that the defendant groped her at a party after the ball before following her as she walked home.

She further alleged they fell into a rose bed where he assaulted her again and then hugged her, touching her breast.

Students who attended the Snow Ball on December 16 last year claimed Mr Booles was drunk on wine and vodka.

But he insisted he had resisted the alleged victim's sexy advances after they had danced intimately at the ball.

He said it would have been impossible to secretly fondle anyone at a party of 15 students but agreed he fell into the rose bed after tripping.

Mr Booles claimed the student climbed on top of him and moved her body up and down.

He twice reminded her that she had a boyfriend at the college and should not be behaving in this way.

He also accused her of making a move towards his groin after inviting him into her room in the early hours.