Jacob Matthew Sumner found not guilty of raping a teenage girl at a CBD nightclub

A man who police charged with raping a teenage girl in a booth at a CBD nightclub has been found not guilty.

A young man has been found not guilty by a jury after police alleged he raped a 17-year-old girl at a club in Adelaide’s CBD.

Jacob Matthew Sumner, 25, of Evanston, was standing trial in the District Court where a jury found him not guilty of two counts of rape following the alleged incident in February 2022.

It was alleged that Mr Sumner sexually assaulted the girl while sitting in a pre-booked booth.

During closing submissions last week, Martin Anders, for Mr Sumner told the court his client’s friend, who was sitting next to the two, and a staff member walking past said they did not see the alleged assault.

“You’ve got all these eyewitnesses that see something that is not a rape, because there was no rape,” he said.

Jacob Sumner was charged with rape. Photo: Facebook

Mr Anders said the alleged victim had “a lot to be embarrassed about” after the interaction, which could have led to her making the allegations.

“Hugging, kissing, sexual conduct in full public view. Being told off by security, finding your dress is a mess,” he said.

“Compounding embarrassment can cause us to try and explain away our behaviour.

“It’s the human condition, to blame someone else for our own stupidity … Here we are, with these charges of rape.”

Mr Anders said the blood on the alleged victim’s dress could be explained as she had cut her finger earlier in the night.

It was alleged the incident occurred at a nightclub in February 2022.

Prosecutor Katherine Draper previously told the court a 17-year-old girl was attending a birthday part at Atlantis Lounge when the alleged assault happened.

“The fun continued into the night, when a group of men joined them in their pre-booked booth,” Ms Draper said.

The court heard Mr Sumner joined the alleged victim and her friends in a pre-booked booth before they shared a consensual kiss before the young girl was allegedly sexually assaulted.

The court also heard the alleged victim had blood smeared all over her white dress.

In her closing statement, Ms Draper told the court that CCTV of the pairs interaction was telling.

“The prosecution suggests there is a sustained wrenching, clear signs of not only (the alleged victim’s) struggle but of the defendant’s unwillingness to listen,” she said.