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Teen 'locked in bathroom and raped'

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A teenage girl was allegedly locked in a bathroom and raped while a friend of the accused banged on the door outside, the High Court has heard.
A teenage girl was allegedly locked in a bathroom and raped while a friend of the accused banged on the door outside, the High Court has heard.

The victim claimed she pulled a towel rail off the wall in a bid to alert others in the house on the outskirts of west Belfast, prosecutors said.

It was alleged that a chef accused of sexually assaulting the 17-year-old in the Twinbrook area later told her she had been asking for it.

Paul Hardy, of Thornhill Crescent in Dunmurry, denies a charge of rape, claiming instead that the pair had consensual sex.

The 20-year-old was granted bail but banned from going into the Poleglass or Dunmurry areas.

Crown counsel Fiona O'Kane said the alleged attack happened in the early hours of April 25 after the girl had been drinking with friends.

The alleged victim claimed she went to the bathroom and as she tried to leave again Hardy came in, locked the door and raped her, the court was told.

"During the course of the assault she pulled a towel rail off the wall and tried to bang it off the wall next to the bedroom," Mrs O'Kane said.

The barrister said this was an attempt to alert others to what was happening.

It was claimed a friend of the accused came to the door and shouted for him to hurry up as they were going to be late.

Hardy is alleged to have replied: "Give me two minutes."

According to the prosecution he at first denied being in the house, but later gave a new statement claiming the pair had consensual sex.

Hardy, who is alleged to have taken cocaine earlier that night, denied the door was ever locked during the incident.

Mark Mulholland, defending, acknowledged his client gave a misleading account to police at first.

This was due to Hardy being in a long-term relationship with another woman pregnant with his child, the court heard.

Mr Mulholland also said it was claimed the alleged victim was "giggling" when Hardy's friend knocked on the door.

"There is no independent or verifiable evidence that would corroborate the account she has given," he argued.

Hardy was granted bail by Mr Justice Gillen to live at an agreed address, banned from contact with the alleged victim.

© UTV News

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