A Portmore resident was freed of a rape charge in the St Catherine Circuit Court on Tuesday, after a jury returned a not guilty verdict.

He is Ramond Rance, of Waterford. Rance was told he was free to go after the seven-member jury retired for about an hour and acquitted him.

He was represented by attorney-at-law Vincent Wellesley.

His appearance was from an incident in 2008, which involved a 16-year-old.

It is said that the complainant went to the accused's house, when she was held and sexually assaulted.

A report was made to the Waterford Police Station and an investigation by Detective Corporal Llewellyn Madden resulted in Rance being charged with rape.