Man on trial for child rape describes accuser as 'horrible' as he gives evidence at Portsmouth Crown Court
“I cannot think why she is being so horrible,” the defendant told the court.
A man accused of historic rape has vehemently denied the allegations in court - describing his alleged victim as “horrible”.
Mark Loten, 63, has been charged of two historic counts of rape and one count of indecent assault. The allegations date back to the 1970s, with a particular incident in 1979.
This week, his trial has got underway at Portsmouth Crown Court - his accuser has a life-long right to anonymity. She was 12 years old at the time the offences allegedly took place.
In court this morning (Tuesday, April 29), Loten, from Yapton Road in Littlehampton, was cross-examined as he gave evidence.
He said: “I never had sexual contact with her. It never took place.
“We simply weren’t close, we were never close.
“I don’t know why she is accusing me of something I didn’t do. I cannot work his one out, and cannot think why she is being so horrible.”
Earlier in the session, the husband of the complainant entered the witness box to give evidence. To protect the identity of the alleged victim, he has also not been named.
He told the court of how her experiences had put a strain on their marriage.
“She didn’t really want to talk about it at first,” he said. “She would just shut down - it affected me mentally too. It took a few months to open up properly about it.
“She told me that she had been sexually assaulted when she was a child, and numerous times it had happened to her.
“It was four or five times this happened, she said. My wife explained to me who she had been abused by.
“I waned her to press charges straight away - she didn’t wan to do that at the time, because she was scared. It hurt to see how much what happened to her had affected her.”
The court also heard how the alleged victim has struggled at points in her life with alcohol addiction, which is linked to the abuse she experienced, the court heard.
The prosecution’s case has now concluded, and tomorrow (Thursday, April 30), the defence will put forward its case in support of Loten, before the jury retires to consider its verdict.
Proceeding