Alex Stokes, a 32-year-old security guard, is on trial for allegedly raping a teenager at a music festival in July 2022. He also faces charges of penetrative and non-penetrative sexual activity with a minor and sexual assault.
The victim, who was 15 at the time, and her friend encountered Stokes at the festival's security gate. After consuming alcohol, the victim's recollection of the events is somewhat unclear. She claims that Stokes pressured her into sex, stating it was “either her or her friend.” The friend testified she awoke to find the victim on top of the defendant near the BBC Sounds stage. She stated that Stokes had touched her inappropriately as well and had provided the girls with confiscated alcohol. The victim and her friend initially lied to the friend’s mother about their actions.
Alex Stokes, of Burns Road, Wellingborough, is accused of raping the teenager at the festival's Henham Park site in July 2022.
The 32-year-old - who was 29 at the time, also denies allegations of penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged under-18, non-penetrative sex with a girl aged under-18 and one count of sexual assault.
The court heard the victim had been visiting the popular music and arts festival as part of a group that included her friend and her friend's family.
The group of five had been camping in a tent for the weekend.
Giving evidence in a recorded cross-examination, the teen said she had drunk wine and vodka prior to entering the site with her friend and was already "intoxicated".
She said they first encountered the defendant at the security gate, where he befriended them and showed them his security card before inviting them to walk over to the main arena area.
The girl and her friend were asking him about his work as a security guard, but her recollections of the evening were affected by the alcohol she had drunk.
She remembered Stokes, from Northamptonshire, saying that "it was either her or her friend (for sex)" and became concerned for the safety of her friend who had passed out due to the effects of drink.
She said the defendant had been about to radio for help for her friend, but she refused, insisting that her friend was ok.
She added earlier in the evening, the pair had invited the defendant to guess their ages and had joked they were 18 or 19, but that later they told Stokes they were both 15.
She said she did not want to have sex and in her evidence told the court: "I felt like I had to. I felt like I had to make him happy."
A video of her friend's testimony was also played to the court, during which she recalled waking up after passing out to find the victim on top of the defendant, who was laying with his back against a wall.
They had all been dancing at the BBC Sounds stage and she said the sex had taken place at a wall behind the stage.
Earlier, the friend said Stokes had supplied the girls with drinks he had confiscated from other revellers.
She said the defendant touched her bottom, put his hand down her top and placed her hand on his genitals while he was having sex with her friend.
The teenager told the court the pair lied to the friend's mother the morning after the incident, fearing the repercussions, by stating they were going for a shower when they were actually going to seek contraceptive pills from a welfare tent at the site.
The trial continues.
If you often open multiple tabs and struggle to keep track of them, Tabs Reminder is the solution you need. Tabs Reminder lets you set reminders for tabs so you can close them and get notified about them later. Never lose track of important tabs again with Tabs Reminder!
Try our Chrome extension today!
Share this article with your
friends and colleagues.
Earn points from views and
referrals who sign up.
Learn more