The jury in the trial of a Bradford police officer accused of raping a woman after a night out has been discharged this lunchtime without reaching verdicts in the case.

West Yorkshire police sergeant Ben Lister, 36, had denied raping the woman and the jury failed to reach any verdicts after more than 10 hours of deliberation.

The Recorder of Bradford Judge Richard Mansell QC said he was taking the decision to discharge the jury reluctantly and it will now be for the prosecution to decide if the officer will have to face a retrial

Bradford Crown Court heard this afternoon that Lister was alleged to have raped the complainant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, after a night out during which they had both had a lot to drink.

Prosecutor Richard Woolfall alleged that Lister had “taken advantage of a young woman who was very drunk”.

Lister, who had split from his partner at the time, claimed that it was consensual sexual activity, but the complainant alleged that she was dragged off a sofa and the sexual activity took place when she was in and out of consciousness or sleep.

Mr Woolfall told the jury that following that alleged rape the complainant had become pregnant.

Lister maintained that what happened that night was consensual and he denied dragging the complainant off the sofa.

Lister accepted he had lied in a message to the complainant saying that they had not had sex, but said he was hoping to get back with his partner.

The defendant denied a charge of rape and a further offence of assault by penetration.

The officer’s case is due to be mentioned again at a hearing before Judge Mansell on November 3 when a new trial date will be fixed if one is required.