Accused denies rape and theft charges

A MAN accused of raping a woman near a railway crossing claims he went no further than a “romantic approach” that was rebuffed, the High Court has heard.

Counsel for Roman Dan-Alexandru said he is now focused on clearing his name of any involvement in the alleged sex attack in Coleraine.

The 21-year-old Romanian is one of two men charged with committing rape in the Bushmills Road area early on September 22.

Dan-Alexandru, of Hazelbank Road in Coleraine, also faces counts of sexually assaulting another woman, theft of a mobile phone and handling stolen goods.

He is to be granted bail on strict conditions once an address approved by police is identified, a judge ruled.

A prosecution lawyer said that when Dan-Alexandru was arrested and had the rape allegation put to him, he replied: “She did totally agree.”

But defence barrister Ben Thompson countered that his client was referring to an unrelated incident involving consensual sex with a separate female earlier in the evening.

He argued that forensic evidence has not revealed any link between Dan-Alexandru’s DNA and the alleged victim.

The accused must abide by a curfew, tagging and surrender all Romanian identity documents. He is banned from leaving the jurisdiction or contacting his co-defendant, alleged victims or witnesses.