[A] JURY in the trial of a man who denies the alleged kidnap and rapes of a woman in Carlisle has retired to consider its verdicts.
Luke Thompson, 24, has been on trial at Carlisle Crown Court for the past week. He denies four charges alleging rape, one kidnap allegation and a further charge of alleged sexual assault.
All of these charges relate to the same female complainant. She told police of an alleged kidnap and alleged rape by Thompson on one occasion at an address in Carlisle, saying: “I tried to stop him. I tried to push him off.”
When interviewed by police, Thompson insisted he hadn’t committed any offences. And, giving evidence to jurors, he was asked if he had ever forced the woman into any kind of sexual behaviour. He replied: “No.”
Thompson, of no fixed address, further denies the alleged use of controlling and coercive behaviour towards a second woman.
Recorder Mark Ainsworth summed up the case to jurors this morning (TUES), and said: “You must decide your verdicts on what you have heard. Decide the case on the evidence.”
