Northern Ireland

Court told schoolgirl 'given cocaine and raped in the back of car'

A 29-year-old man denies charges including rape
A 29-year-old man denies charges including rape A 29-year-old man denies charges including rape

A Belfast schoolgirl was allegedly given cocaine and raped in the back of a car, the High Court has heard.

The 14-year-old also claims she was forced to perform a sex act in front of others in the vehicle, a judge was told.

Prosecution counsel Kate McKay said: "She said she was resisting, banging on windows and shouting to get out."

A 29-year-old man is accused of carrying out the attacks during a late-night journey in May.

The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces charges of rape, sexual assault, possessing cocaine and administering a substance with the intention of stupefying or overpowering the alleged victim.

He is out on bail, but was refused a curfew extension to spend more time with his family.

Lord Justice Stephens also directed that anonymity granted to him is to be reviewed at his next remand hearing in three weeks' time.

The man denies the charges against him, claiming the girl told him she was 20 and that all sexual contact was consensual.

An older woman had allegedly persuaded the teenager to get into the car when it appeared at a location in Belfast with three men in it, the court heard.

Once inside she was offered drugs and alcohol, according to the prosecution.

Mrs McKay contended: "She made it clear to all parties that she was aged 14 - a schoolgirl."

Police were contacted after the girl spoke to a friend at school the following morning.

As the application to vary bail conditions was denied yesterday, the accused shouted out: "I'm an innocent man."

Questioning why reporting restrictions were in place, the judge was told police had alerted the defendant to a death threat.