A jury has been unable to reach a verdict in the case of a young Suffolk farmer accused of sexually assaulting a woman who was sleeping in his flat after attending a 'Bavarian Night' at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester.

William Foster, 24, of Gatfield Road, Hunningfield, denied sexually assaulting the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, between June 1 and June 4 2017.

At the end of a four day trial, and after five and three quarter hours of deliberation, the jury at Gloucester crown court indicated to Judge Michael Cullum that they would be unable to reach a verdict.

Judge Cullum thanked them for their efforts and discharged them from considering the case any further.

Prosecutor, Ian Fenny, was granted fourteen days for the crown to decide if they wished to seek a retrial on the allegation.

During the trial, the jury of eight men and four women heard that the woman had travelled to meet with her friend Mark Irving-Philips who was living with Mr Foster and his then girlfriend Mary Seay.

The four had gone for dinner and then attended 'Bavarian Night', a German Beer Festival held at the end of the academic year at the prestigious university in the Cotswold town.

The woman claimed she saw Mr Foster perform oral sex on his male friend and she alleged that later he molested her when she was in bed.