Teenager accused of rape ‘kept woman’s underwear as trophy’

ALLEGED VICTIM WAS TAKEN DOWN ALLEY AND FORCED E GROUND, JURY HEARS

- By MARTIN NAYLOR

A TEENAGER is accused of raping a total stranger as she walked home from a night out and kept her underwear “as some kind of trophy’, a court heard.

Ajury was told how Connor Evans’ alleged victim - a mother-of-three in her 30s - recalled lying on her back with the defendant on top of her before she pushed him off and ran from the scene.

The woman then began banging on doors until a couple opened theirs. She ran inside and hid behind a sofa.

The 21-year-old, who was 19 at the time of the allegation and is of Kirkby Avenue, Ilkeston, is on trial for a single count of rape.

He denies the charge, claiming the sex they had was consensual and that it was initiated by the woman.

Prosecutor Sean Brunton KC, opening the trial, said the victim had been out in Ilkeston on the night of the alleged rape on June 23, 2023.