Alleged indecent assault was ‘passionate’

A man on trial for indecently assaulting a teenage girl after allegedly luring her to his home claims the pair’s sexual activity was consensual and passionate.

In evidence given to the New Plymouth District Court yesterday, Aaron Ross West admitted he and the 18-yearold kissed on his bed following a night of drinking at a city bar in February

2017. He said the complainant, who is now 20 years old and has automatic name suppression, initiated the kissing.

‘‘It wasn’t something I was expecting,’’ said West, who is defending two charges of indecent assault and two of male assaults female.

It is alleged West took her to his home under the guise there was a party, but once there pushed her on to his bed and kissed her face and stomach.

She allegedly ran from the house crying and said the incident had left her terrified and distraught.

On day two of his jury trial , West told how he had been drinking at Icons Sports Bar and Cafe until about 3am.

While there he bumped into the complainant, whom he had known for about five years.

He alleged she approached him at the closing of the bar and asked how he was getting home, and if she could catch a lift.

West, who is a warrant of fitness inspector in-training, said he had no problem sharing a taxi with the thenteen and invited her to join him for a drink back at his house.

After arriving at his home, the two had a drink and spoke to his flatmate for a time. West said he then went and lay on his bed and the complainant followed.

The two engaged in a consensual kissing session, which involved him ‘‘flicking’’ her on to the bed, he told the court.

But before long, the complainant told him to ‘‘wait, wait, wait’’.

West said the complainant explained she recently broke up with her boyfriend and there was an emotional confusion between the two.

She left the house soon after, but not before West walked her to the door where the two kissed again, he said.

‘‘And then next thing I know I’m being woken up by cops.’’

Under cross-examination, Crown prosecutor Georgia Milne told West it was he who suggested she share a taxi with him and then led her to believe there was a party at his house.

West said the ‘‘party’’ conversation never occurred and it was not in his nature to ‘‘try it on with her’’.

Closing submissions will be heard today.