Sex consensual, says rape accused

4:02pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

A man accused of raping a teenager in Bradford more than three years ago has told a jury that the girl consented to sex with him.

Herbert Tayengwa, 40, is alleged to have raped the 16-year-old twice after taking her down a fire escape at the rear of the Checkpoint nightclub in Bradford city centre in July 2005.

Tayengwa, of Woodbridge Garth, Leeds, has denied the two rape charges. Today he maintained that the girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had approached him and agreed to have sex.

When he was questioned about the alleged rape in March this year Tayengwa told police he was not in Bradford at the time, but yesterday he said he was confused during the interview.

During the police inquiry Tayengwa’s DNA was found to match samples taken from the alleged victim.

Tayengwa said he had sex with the girl in a private place inside the club and had not been in the yard at the rear.

Prosecutor Lesley Dickinson suggested that Tayengwa had grabbed the girl and pushed her down the steps after she made it clear she didn’t want anything to do with him. “No, I have never been there,” replied Tayengwa.

“You pulled her jeans down and popped the button off them?” said Miss Dickinson.

“No, no,” said Tayengwa. “We were kissing.”

The trial continues.

Editor's choice