- Kerrea Gilbert was accused of attacked the teenager after a night out in Bristol
- He claimed sex was consensual and the girl later claimed it had been forced
- His friend Nathan Doctrove, 28, also accused of raping the teen in April last year
- Gilbert and Doctrove were both acquitted of rape at Bristol Crown Court
A former Arsenal footballer and his friend have been cleared of raping a teenage girl.
Kerrea Gilbert, 30, who played a handful of games for the Gunners over ten years ago, was accused of attacking the 17 year-old in Bristol.
But he told a jury the sex was consensual and the girl later claimed it had been forced.
Gilbert played a handful of games for Arsenal ten years ago, pictured, he celebrates a goal with striker Thierry Henry in 2006
Gilbert, from Willesden, north London, said that rather than not consenting the girl was a willing participant who said he was hot and told him: ‘Why don’t we get things moving?’
He described how she lifted up her skirt, allowing him to take off her knickers and they had ‘enjoyable’ intercourse.
His friend Nathan Doctrove, 28, from Harrow, was also accused of raping the teen in April last year.
He told the jury he chatted to the girl and asked her: ‘Are you up for some fun?’
Left Gilbert in action for Arsenal in 2009 and right, playing for England’s U’17s team
They started kissing and cuddling and when she asked him what he meant by fun he told her ‘sex’ and she said ‘yes’.
He fetched a condom and then put it on as she watched.
Gilbert and Doctrove both denied rape and were both acquitted at Bristol Crown Court.
