RAPE CLAIM GIRL ‘WAS ENJOYING IT’
She performed sex act, Jackson tells court He ‘had no idea’ alleged victim was upset
RUGBY star Paddy Jackson claimed yesterday his alleged rape victim “enjoyed” performing a sex act on him.
The Ireland and Ulster player denied having intercourse or using force. He told Belfast Crown Court she undid his trousers before performing a sex act in his bedroom in June 2016. He added: “She was doing it to me. She was enjoying it.”
Jackson, 26, also said he had no idea the then 19-year-old was upset when she left. He denies the charges against him.
RUGBY star Paddy Jackson yesterday denied raping a woman in his bedroom – and claimed she enjoyed what they did together.
On the first day of the defence case at Belfast Crown Court, the Ireland and Ulster player said the alleged victim undid his trousers and performed a sex act on him.
He denied grabbing her, pulling her through the doorway and shutting the bedroom door.
His lawyer Brendan Kelly asked: “Did you apply any force?” Jackson answered: “No, I wouldn’t do that.”
He asked the accused if his Whatsapp message about “a lot of spit roast” shared with pals was a claim he had raped the complainant.
Jackson replied: “No, not at all.” He told the court the then 19-year-old flirted with him when they met at his house party in June 2016.
Jackson said: “She was looking at me. I didn’t think it was strange at the time. We were flirting with each other.
“If I went to the kitchen she followed me. It seemed normal. It was very much flirting between both of us.”
He told the court he believed she liked him and added: “It was nice. I liked her back. I went upstairs. I remember part of me thinking she might follow me upstairs. She did.”
Asked had he had consent to kiss the woman, he said: “Yes, definitely.”
But when he could not tell her her name, their close activity ended and he decided to go back downstairs.
The complainant also went into the living room but about 15 minutes later, according to Jackson, the woman scraped her nails up his arm.
He described how he walked up the stairs again hoping that she would follow. The witness said she did.
Jackson said: “We were standing in the middle of the room. We kissed for a bit and I backed up to the bed and I hit the bed and we continued kissing.
“It got a bit more passionate. I was lying on the bed and [the complainant] got on top of me. [She] bit my lip, my lower lip. It was playful but it was pretty hard. It was sore.”
He told the court at this stage both himself and the woman were fully clothed until she undid his trousers.
Jackson added he did not have intercourse with the complainant but did engage in consensual acts.
The lawyer asked: “Was oral sex performed?” Jackson said: “Yes, it was.”
The barrister quizzed him if there were signs the woman was “enjoying what was happening”.
Jackson said: “She was doing it to me. She was enjoying it.”
He told the court the oral sex did not last “too long” and when it had ended Stuart Olding entered the room.
Jackson said: “It was a bit embarrassing.
“I kind of smiled at him and waved at him.
“He came over and there was an interaction between them.”
Jackson confirmed he put two fingers inside the woman and when asked by his lawyer if there had been resistance he replied: “No, none at all.”
Mr Kelly asked: “Was there an intention to have penile intercourse?” Jackson said: “I thought it was leading to that, yes. She asked for a condom. I looked in the bedroom wardrobe. I couldn’t find one.”
Earlier, the accused told the court that if he had thought the woman had been upset he would have tried to find and comfort her.
He said: “The last thing I would want is a girl crying and leaving my house. I would have completely freaked out.
“I went to bed. I had no idea she was upset.”
Jackson was asked if he had ever punched someone.
He replied: “I have never been in a fight. I am not an aggressive person.”
Jackson, 26, from Belfast’s Oakleigh Park, denies one count of rape and one count of sexual assault.
Olding, 24, from Ardenlee Street in the city, also denies rape. Two other
BELFAST CROWN COURT YESTERDAY
Belfast men have also been charged in connection with the case.
Blane Mcilroy, 26, of Royal Lodge Road, denies one count of exposure while 25-year-old Rory Harrison, from Manse Road, pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice and withholding information.
Prosecution lawyer Toby Hedworth quizzed Jackson about June 28 and said: “If you were trying to force your hand up inside her that would not be consensual foreplay.” The accused replied: “No, I wouldn’t do that.”
Mr Hedworth added: “I put it to you that you forced yourself upon her, then beckoned your friend Stuart Olding to join in when she had made it quite apparent she didn’t want any sexual activity with anyone.” Jackson replied: “No, it was quite the opposite.” Mr Hedworth claimed: “When Mr Olding came in, she said, ‘No not him as well’.” Jackson told him: “That wasn’t said.”
The barrister replied: “When Mr Mcilroy came to the door and she said did no one understand what no means.” Jackson said: “I didn’t hear that or it didn’t happen.” The accused
She was looking at me. We were both flirting with each other PADDY JACKSON
said he was not happy with Olding’s description of them as “top shaggers”, telling the court he had thought the sexual activity with the woman had been “good”.
Earlier, Mr Hedworth suggested Jackson had been playing a game of “cat and mouse” with the complainant.
He said: “How it happened was that young woman went upstairs and you followed?” Jackson interjected: “No, I didn’t.” Mr Hedworth added: “You thought she was a bit of a tease. Did you think, ‘This time I am not going to take no for an answer?’”
Jackson responded: “No, I didn’t.” Mr Hedworth asked him about concerns regarding the night in question that had been not been shared with him by his pals. Jackson maintained Harrison did not tell him the woman was extremely upset.
Mr Hedworth asked if Jackson felt his friends “would have his back” and he replied yes.
The lawyer said: “They felt she had been hysterical, that it wasn’t going to end well, and that what had happened wasn’t consensual, this wasn’t discussed with you by these guys who’d have your back. I’d say that’s a downright lie.”
Jackson said he was “disappointed” they had not told him and added: “It’s because they didn’t think it was as serious as is it is now.”
He also described the Whatsapp messages on the JACOME group as “stupid behaviour, egging each other”.
Mr Hedworth said one of the women at the party had claimed she had been “100%” sure Jackson had vaginal sex with the complainant.
The accused told the court he did not but the lawyer added: “The reality is, I suggest you then penetrated [the complainant] with your penis.” Jackson answered: “No, I didn’t.” Mr Hedworth continued: “From behind, which is exactly what Dara Florence saw when looking for her friend, 100% certain you are having vaginal sex with the female on the bed. You had resisted that temptation with that woman in that position, not to put your penis inside her?
“Nothwithstanding the amount of drink you had taken, you were showing complete restraint?” Jackson answered: “Yes.”
The accused’s first character witness Dr Katie Donaldson took to the stand and said he was “very friendly and a good guy”.
The trial also heard Jackson had woken up the following morning feeling “happy” and met his friends for lunch and went out drinking again.
Mr Hedworth asked him: “You were happy with a bit of spit roasting?” He replied: “Threesome or spit roast.”
I have never been in a fight before. I am not an aggressive person
PADDY JACKSON BELFAST CROWN COURT YESTERDAY