A MAN accused of trying to rape a pregnant woman after she sought refuge in his house has been cleared by a jury.

Munib Sarcevic had denied trying to have sex with the woman while her six-year-old daughter slept beside her.

Earlier, Bolton Crown Court heard that the woman and her six-year-old daughter had been allowed to sleep at Sarcevic's house after she had walked out on her partner.

She claimed that she had gone to bed and been woken by Sarcevic trying to have sex with her while her daughter slept beside her.

Bosnian-born Sarcevic, who has five children in the UK and one in Bosnia, said he did not attempt to rape the woman and claimed they had been flirting, then kissing downstairs.

He said the woman had indicated to him that she would have sex with him, but when he had found out she was five months' pregnant he left the room.

Later, Sarcevic said he saw the mother and her daughter looking under the beds, as though they were searching for money, and threw them out.

The woman was called back to court to give evidence three times and, on the last occasion, she admitted she had a row with Sarcevic's family while the trial was in progress.

When arrested by police and interviewed, Sarcevic, who arrived in Britain from Bosnia in 1992 and speaks no English, made no comment on legal advice.

Sarcevic, aged 44, of Shepherd Cross Street, Bolton, had been on trial, facing one count of attempted rape. He had denied the charge.

Giving evidence via an interpreter, Sarcevic said he was ashamed to admit that he had kissed the woman while his wife made them food and drink.

Later, the woman had come downstairs for an ashtray and indicated to him to follow her upstairs for sex. But when he got there he said she was pretending she was asleep and told him she was almost five months' pregnant and he left.

As he was getting undressed for bed, he saw the light on upstairs and saw the woman and her daughter on the floor looking under the beds. He thought they were looking for money and threw them out. He saw that they went straight to two men he had seen earlier that evening.