Girl, 18 ‘raped’ after man offers room, court is told

DEFENDANT IN ‘STRANGULATION’ CASE MET VICTIM ON FLATMATE FINDER SITE

- CARL JACKSON Court Reporter

A MAN allegedly strangled and raped an 18-year-old girl hours after meeting her on a flatmate finder site, a court has heard.

Mirza Begg has been accused of offering the complainant, who he met through Roomies, a place to stay in his Birmingham flat for free only to ‘take advantage of her’

The 33-year-old is also alleged to have threatened the teenager with a sword when she resisted him.

Afterwards, she texted her friend saying ‘He fell asleep, I just got raped} ajury was told.

Begg, of Coventry Road, Small Heath denies rape, strangulation, making threats with an offensive weapon and assault by beating.

Andrew Wallace, prosecuting, told Birmingham Crown Court the victim was ‘looking for a place to live in Bir-

mingham’ and used an app called Roomies, where people advertise accommodation.

She met Begg who was ‘looking for something completely different’