A JURY has found a kebab shop worker not guilty of taking part in the gang rape of a 41-year-old mum in the staff toilets.

The panel of seven women and five men took seven and half hours to clear Abdul Shinwari of forcing himself on the woman by a majority of 10 to two.

The 25-year -old, who is originally from Afghanistan, put his hand to his head as the verdicts were returned and left the dock sobbing after the judge discharged him.

Shinwari had always accepted having sex with the woman after she came to Sammy's, in Clive Parade, in the early hours asking for beer.

But he insisted she had forced herself on him in the incident in April last year, and not the other way round.

He was one of three men at the kebab shop when the victim turned up at the door asking for beer.

She had left a party at the Moonrakers pub just after midnight having been drinking all day on top of medication, the jury had been told.

After having three pints of cider during the day, starting at 11.30am, she had another five in the pub as well as a small glass of champagne.

Because of depression and pain she said she was on four kinds of medication and in the past had heard voices in her head telling her to sexual things.

But the woman, who said she had not had sex with her partner of 20 years for 10 months, insisted she was not overly drunk or hearing voices that night.

She told how having been separated from her friends she went to Sammy's asking if they sold beer but was immediately ushered through to the shop to the staff toilets.

There she said she was raped by two members of staff, the other man has never been traced, before being turfed out the back door with a can of pop.

The third man said he was always in the front of the premises and has since been sent home to the middle east.

Shinwari told the court she had come to the shop and after requesting beer asked to use the toilet, saying she was desperate to go

When he let her through he said she immediately came on to him and as she kept kissing and groping him he became aroused and, with her making all the running, they had sex.

The devout Muslim said he had come to the UK in 2006 as a 16-year-old after his father's death, attaining citizenship about four years ago.