Retrial likely for rape charge of Huddersfield man David Bentley

Feb 9 2010 By Huddersfield Examiner

A MAN accused of twice raping a teenage girl with a mental age of five is expected to face a retrial after a jury failed to reach a verdict in his case yesterday (MON).

David Bentley, 50, of Bath Street, Huddersfield, was found not guilty last Friday of one count of rape.

But after further deliberation yesterday the jury of six men and six women failed to reach agreement on a second rape allegation.

Bentley had denied raping the 15-year-old Bradford girl on two days in April last year.

During his trial Bentley said: "I’m not guilty because I’d never touch a child – I’d never, ever touch a child."

He said he was "disgusted", "horrified" and "mortified" at being accused of rape.

However, the prosecution said Bentley had targeted the girl because she was vulnerable.