Andrew Johnston acquitted of raping two women

Andrew Johnston, a former Britain’s Got Talent finalist who rose to fame as a choirboy in 2008, has been acquitted of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault following allegations involving two women. The accusations included claims that Johnston removed condoms without consent, grabbed one woman's throat during intercourse, and was physically forceful and verbally abusive. Johnston denied the charges, describing the encounters as consensual, fast, and passionate but never aggressive, and maintained that the women had fabricated their allegations. The jury at Southwark Crown Court found him not guilty on all charges. Johnston, who was studying opera at the Royal Academy of Music at the time of the alleged incidents, has not performed publicly since the allegations surfaced. His career highlights include a £1 million record deal and a top-five UK album.