A Darlington musician is on trial accused of rape. Eric Hynes, 31, says his accuser performed a sex act on him in the early hours and then the two, who did not know each other until minutes earlier, had consensual sex.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Hynes, who sings and plays guitar, had performed at Darlington's Dr. inks bar, and had drinks throughout the gig and some shots that people bought him. When he finished his performance, he went onto The Gate bar - by which time, he told the jury, he had had "seven or eight pints and a handful of shots."

The alleged victim testified that he had gone out drinking that evening and decided to cut through a town car park. He told police he thinks he "blacked out" and when he came round, Hynes was having sex with him.

The man, who told police he

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