Updated 4:05pm: New Plymouth Police admire a teenage girl who came forward with rape claims, despite the alleged perpetrators being found not guilty.

Two 19-year-old men have been acquitted of sexual violation charges, while one's been found guilty of making a video recording of the incident, that ended up on Facebook.

Detective Senior Sergeant Blair Burnett says there are no winners in this situation.

"I admire the courage of the complainant and I would encourage any other people to come forward if they were faced with the same situation."

Blair Burnett wouldn't comment on criticisms from a defence lawyer, that police need to have better evidence before pressing rape charges. 

Police handling of case criticised

The lawyer of one of the New Plymouth teens acquitted of sexual violation this afternoon, is criticising the way police handled the case.

A High Court jury found two 19-year-olds not guilty of sexually violating a woman who said she was too drunk to give consent.

It has however found one of the men guilty of filming the incident.

Defence lawyer, Paul Keegan, says his client has been through 13 months of hell, since the charges were laid.

"I think a more considered approach by the police and a better evaluation of the evidence might have avoided this."

Sighs of relief as teens acquitted

Sighs of relief echoed through the High Court in New Plymouth this afternoon, as two teens were acquitted of sexual violation charges.

The 19-year-olds were accused of having a threesome with a woman who was too drunk to know what was happening.

The jury however found one of the men guilty of making a video recording of the incident, which ended up on Facebook.

The defence says it wants this charge to be quashed.

The judge will deal with this application and one regarding the men's interim name suppression on December 19.

Defence lawyer, Paul Keegan, says there's no question the woman was objectified and humiliated by the video.

But he's pleased the jury recognised that she did in fact consent to the sexual activity.