Scots aristocrat cleared of sex attack on birthday party guest at family mansion

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Scots aristocrat has been cleared of sexually assaulting a guest at a birthday bash held at his family’s 22-bedroom mansion after a not proven verdict.

Euan Tennant, 39, was on trial accused of the alleged attack on a woman in her mid-20s in a “huge” four poster bed.The woman told how she was sharing the bed with a female pal when they gave permission to Tennant to sleep beside them.She said Tennant ran his hand up her leg, leaving her “frozen”, before sexually assaulting her.Giving evidence on Wednesday, Tennant said he believed the woman had given her consent.

The jury at Edinburgh Sheriff Court returned a not proven verdict by majority on Thursday afternoon. Tennant, whose grandparents were confidantes of Princess Margaret, the Queen’s late sister, walked free from the dock in visible relief.

Asked to comment on the verdict outside the courtroom, Tennant said: “I hope everyone can move on with their lives in a meaningful and fulfilling way.”Tennant had denied a charge of sexual assault and lodged a special defence of consent.His accuser told the court on Tuesday how she, her pal and Tennant had chatted about consent in sexual matters at Glen House, near Innerleithen, in the Scottish Borders.The woman, who had a boyfriend, said Tennant and her pal snorted cocaine, but she didn’t have any, and they were “chatting and having a nice time”.She told how she’d been invited to a two-night stay at Glen House to celebrate Tennant’s birthday by a mutual friend.They gave permission for Tennant to get on the bed as they talked for around 90 minutes, the court heard, and Tennant asked if he could sleep there over the covers.The woman said: “We didn’t see any problem with that.