The teenager accusing a young actor of raping him in a theatre may have a number of reasons to lie about the allegations, a court heard today.

Judith Khan QC, defence counsel for the actor who can not be named for legal reasons, told Blackfriars Crown Court the alleged victim might lie for the sake of attention seeking, jealousy over the defendant’s girlfriend, or feeling used.

The south London actor, now 17, is charged with one count of oral rape and three of sexual assault between July and September 2010.

Summing up this morning, Ms Khan said: “When [the complainant] gave evidence on the first day, he rather dramatically passed out in the witness box when being asked questions by Mr Forster.

"There is a natural reaction to sympathise with somebody who reacts to giving evidence in that way, but it is important to bear in mind that reaction is not an indicator of truthfulness.

“A witness who may be lying or dishonest may react in the same way.

“It would be as wrong to say people don’t make false allegations just as it would be to say people always lie about stuff like this.

“The only question you have to consider is – are you sure on the evidence [the defendant] is guilty and are you sure [the victim] told the truth and it was not with consent?

“If you are not sure [the complainant] told you the truth – you must acquit.”

She said the jury would not find any independent evidence supporting what is alleged to have happened between the two boys and said there were inconsistencies in the complainant’s statement.

She added: “What conclusion would you expect a jury to reach if assessing somebody’s future and it was somebody you care about?

"We ask you to end the nightmare.”

The defendant admitted he and the alleged victim did engage in sex acts at the theatre but told the jury they were consensual.

The court heard last week the actor twice sexually assaulted the teenager at a London theatre, once while the defendant’s girlfriend was present.

The abuse allegedly continued after the boys returned from their summer holiday and the boy was assaulted in the toilet and in the men’s changing room.

The jury have been sent home for the day after two and a half hours deliberation.

They will return tomorrow.