A FORMER yacht club committee member has been found not guilty of raping a teenager.

Jurors cleared Michael Mayhew, 48, of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl after five hours of deliberation.

As the verdict was read out, Mr Mayhew, mouthed “thank you” several times to the jury.

He had been accused of raping the girl following a meal at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club, where he was a former committee member.

Judge Andrew Barnett said: “This jury has found you not guilty. You may leave this court without a stain on your character.”

Mr Mayhew, a sailing instructor, of Princess Royal Close, Lymington, described the time since the allegation was made as “the worst 18 months of my life”.

In a statement read by his solicitor, Mr Mayhew thanked the jury for their “careful consideration” of the case.

He said: “I would also like to thank my barrister Mr Robert Grey and my solicitor Noel Roberts of Abels for their commitment to my case.

“Last but not least I would like to thank my family and friends for their unstinting support especially my ex-partner Anne Louise.

“This has been a terrible burden for the last 18 months and I now want to return to my normal life.”

During the trial the court heard how the alleged victim and two of her friends had gone to Mr Mayhew’s home for drinks at around 11.30pm on August 15, 2008.

The IT project manager told the court the teenager had followed him to his downstairs toilet and smacked him on the backside before propositioning him.

He turned down her sexual advances before she stormed out of his home. Mr Mayhew was arrested the following morning after the girl told police that she had been raped.