A FORMER South Wales Argus worker has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a woman on a night out in Newport city centre.

Gareth Brown, aged 42, of Islwyn Street in Abercarn, denied the assault relating to an incident at the Travelodge hotel in Newport in May 2013.

On the final day of his trial at Cardiff Crown Court today, the six men and six women of the jury cleared him of the charge. The jury returned a unanimous verdict.

Mr Brown sobbed and gave thanks as the verdict was read out.

Giving evidence last week, Mr Brown said the woman was awake when he got into bed with her.

He told jurors that he was encouraged to "cwtch" her, and insisted he had her consent.

He denied claims that he had performed a sexual act on the claimant while she was asleep and said he would never had done so if she was.

Prosecutor Janet McDonald said the claimant had taken drugs, namely M-Cat, that night while Mr Brown had taken cocaine. Both had been drinking on the night.

They headed back to the hotel in the early hours of the morning after going to a number of bars in the city centre, the court heard last week.