A JURY has been unable to reach verdicts in the trial of a man accused of raping a vagrant in Bolton town centre.

At Minshull Street Crown Court a jury of six men and six women found Said Abshir Omar not guilty of one rape but told the judge, Recorder Abigail Hudson, that they were unable to decide verdicts on two further rape counts.

Omar, aged 24, of Shepley Avenue, Bolton, was unanimously convicted of assaulting the beggar and is due to be sentenced for that offence on July 22.

During a trial that lasted almost two weeks, the prosecution alleged that the beggar, a man in his late 40s, was raped by Omar, who offered to get cash from an ATM machine in the early hours of January 23 after encountering him in Bradshawgate.

The beggar thought he was his "Good Samaritan" but Omar was said to have led his victim to a quiet alleyway behind the Three Crowns pub on Deansgate where one of the offences was committed.

He was then alleged to have taken the beggar to two further locations in the town centre where rapes occurred.

When arrested Omar initially refused to answer police questions but after his DNA was found on the vagrant's clothing, he admitted a sexual encounter had taken place.

Omar claimed it had been consensual and that the victim had instigated sex, prostituting himself for money.

None of the sites of the alleged rapes are covered by CCTV cameras, but police discovered footage of Omar following his alleged victim through the town centre and repeatedly hitting him over the head.

An hour later the vagrant , who was said to have a "chaotic and troubled lifestyle", reported being raped to police.

He was said to have appeared panicked and distressed with his voice trembling.

Police found Omar a short time later, still in the town centre, eating pizza and with a pot of Vaseline on him.

In court Omar told the jury that the vagrant had instigated their encounter, claimed his alleged victim had stolen money from his pocket and that he was "fearful" of him because he was older, bigger and stronger then him.

"He was very aggressive towards me," said Omar.

The Crown Prosecution Service has yet to decide whether to seek a retrial on the rape charges the jury were unable to reach verdicts on.

A jury can only acquit or convict a defendant with a unanimous verdict on one where at least 10 of their number agree.