Historical rape denied

Geelong man pleading not guilty to total of nine charges

A GEELONG man has appeared in court charged with historical sex offences including rape.

Martin Sanders, 40, faced the County Court in Geelong on Thursday for a trial centred on allegations stemming from the early 2000s.

Mr Sanders faces nine charges in total including two counts of rape, as well as false imprisonment, indecent assault and common law assault.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

It is alleged Mr Sanders twice raped a woman, who was known to him, on separate occasions while he was aged in his early 20s.

He is also accused of physically assaulting her.

In an opening address to jurors, crown prosecutor Andrew Moore said it was alleged one of the rapes took place while the woman was held in a car against her will.

He told the court the woman was celebrating a birthday party in Melbourne when Mr Sanders allegedly confronted her outside and forced her into his car. Mr Moore said the car doors were locked as Mr Sanders allegedly drove towards Geelong.

It is alleged the woman tried to flee the vehicle but was grabbed by the hair and punched, before being told: “You’re not going anywhere”.

During the journey, Mr Sanders allegedly told the woman he was “horny” and then orally raped her.

The second alleged incident took place at a home in Geelong where it is claimed Mr Sanders again raped the woman. Mr Moore said the complainant was punched multiple times and “kept saying ‘no’” as Mr Sanders allegedly pulled her pants off and forced sex on her.

It is further alleged that he coerced the woman to perform a sexual act on him after warning she would “cop it” if she did not comply, the court heard.

Mr Sanders is also charged over a separate incident when he allegedly punched the woman repeatedly in an attack that left her bleeding from the nose.

The court heard the accused man was questioned about the allegations after the woman made a statement to police in 2017. During a police interview, Mr Sanders denied ever physically or sexually assaulting the woman.

Defence barrister John Lavery told jurors there were a number of issues with the prosecution case.

“The defence position is that (the complainant) is not an honest and, certainly, not a reliable witness,” Mr Lavery said.

The trial continues.