Ex-United ace and pal cleared in rape trial

EX-UNITED footballer John Cofie and his friend have been cleared of raping a woman after meeting her on a night out.

- AMY WALKER

Mr Cofie, who played for the Old Trafford club from the age of 14 until he was 21 before playing abroad until the age of 26 and his friend Nathan Stuart denied rape charges.

They have now been found not guilty on all counts by a jury.

Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court heard the woman went out with a friend in Altrincham, Trafford, and met Mr Cofie and Mr Stuart, both now 31, on the evening of April 12, 2019.

They visited several bars before the woman's friend went home.

The woman recalled having a cigarette outside one bar, but told jurors 'that was the last of what she eally recalled' from the evening.