Alex Stokes, a former security guard, is on trial for allegedly raping a 15-year-old and sexually assaulting another 15-year-old at the Latitude Festival in 2022. He denies all charges, including penetrative and non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl under 18.
A key piece of evidence, a photograph of a mark on one victim's breast, was initially presented as evidence of assault. However, the victim later retracted this, stating the mark predated the alleged incident and that she had lied to support her claim.
The victim admitted to lying about the mark's origin, explaining that she believed it would strengthen her case. Despite this retraction, she maintained that Stokes did sexually assault her, including touching her breast and forcing her hand onto his genitals.
The trial continues with the defendant also facing a rape charge concerning a friend of the first victim. The case highlights the complexities of evidence and testimony in sexual assault trials.
Alex Stokes, of Burns Road, Wellingborough, is on trial for the alleged rape of a 15-year-old at the festival's Henham Park site in July 2022 where he was a security guard.
He is also accused of sexually assaulting a second 15-year-old girl, who is a friend of the alleged rape victim.
The 32-year-old - who was 29 at the time, also denies penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged under-18 and non-penetrative sex with a girl aged under-18.
On Wednesday, it was heard that the victim of the alleged sexual assault, who was 15 at the time, took a picture of a mark on her breast and submitted it to police as part of her statement.Â
The teenager had told the court that Stokes put his hand under her bra before she pulled it away.
The 15-year-old signed the declaration beneath the statement, promising that the content was true to the best of her knowledge, the court heard.
However, five months later the girl sent an email to police saying: “I wish to state that I had noticed this mark prior to the incident with Alex and I do not believe this to have been caused by the sexual assault."
When asked why she had "lied", the alleged victim said, “I thought it would give evidence that Alex had done what he did”.
The girl, who was 15 at the time, added that she knew it was “completely wrong”.
“You’ve lied to try to back up your story”, defence barrister Andrew Thompson said however the girl replied, “I did tell the truth about what Alex had done to me”.
On top of touching her breast the girl has accused Stokes of placing her hand on his genitals.
The defendant is also facing a charge of rape in relation to a friend of the girl who was at the festival.
The trial continues.
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