A man accused of raping an old school friend has been acquitted of the charge by a jury.

Thomas Goodman, 20, allegedly sexually assaulted the student, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at a flat in St Andrews, Fife, in July 2010.

Goodman, who has served with the Royal Air Force, was said to have attacked the woman after drinking cider and vodka.

But on Thursday, a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh returned a not proven verdict on the allegation.

Judge Lord Brailsford told him: "You have been acquitted. You are free to go."

During the five day trial, the court heard evidence from the female, also 20, that she and Goodman had attended school together as teenagers at Madras College, St Andrews.

She also revealed that they had kept in touch with each other after leaving the educational establishment.

The woman said she had gone to Goodman's flat in the town because she thought he wanted to repay a £50 loan.

She claimed that once she got there, she was assaulted and forced by her old friend to perform an intimate sex act on him.

Goodman, now of Cupar, Fife, claimed that he had consensual sex with the woman.

He also claimed that he was friends with her in the months leading up to the alleged incident.

His solicitor advocate Chris Fyffe also led medical evidence which also stated that it was not possible to conclude whether the woman had actually been raped.

After being told by the judge that he was a free man, Goodman left court with a female relative.