Woman found in trolley after rape, court told

A DUNGANNON man who is accused of kidnapping and raping a woman was denied bail yesterday.

Prosecutors said the alleged victim was discovered in a shopping trolley being pushed by the man in Armagh.

It was also claimed that Nathan Kidney told the complain- ant that he was “in control” of her and had issued threats to kill during the incident on June 11.

The 19-year-old defendant, of Deringa Road in the town, denies more than 50 charges, including rape, sexual assault, kidnap, false imprisonment, 25 common assaults, aggravated vehicle taking and other motoring offences.

The woman claims he had ap- peared as she went to get into the car, grabbed her by the hair and told her to drive, the court heard.

She was then allegedly ordered to stop and dragged outside, with the vehicle rolling back and injuring her foot.

She claimed that Kidney then got behind the wheel of the car and then drove her to a field, telling her to remove clothing and thumping her head when she refused.

Crown lawyer, James Johnston, said the woman alleged she was repeatedly slapped on the backside and made to count every strike.

She also claims to have been raped and later forced to perform a sex act on Kidney while he was driving.

Police launched a pursuit after the car was spotted in Armagh, the judge was told.

Mr Johnston said the vehicle reached speeds of 80mph in a 30mph zone, mounting pavements and travelling against the flow of traffic.

Despite the deployment of a stinger device, the car continued and struck a number of others before the pursuit was eventually called off.

It was later found abandoned, with a police search ending when Kidney was found pushing the complainant in the shopping trolley.

She claimed that he had made her get into it, so that they could keep moving despite her foot injury.

Kidney denied the assaults during police interviews, insisting any sexual contact was consensual.

Refusing bail, however, Madam Justice McBride cited the risk of re-offending.