Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Date rape victim had tea spiked’
Man denies disabled woman attack
A WOMAN with learning difficulties allegedly raped by a man believes her tea was spiked, the High Court heard yesterday.
She claims her arms were tied and a second man held her legs before the alleged attack in Newcastle, Co Down.
Bangladeshi Rahman Sadikur, 34, with an address at South Circular Road in Dublin, denies two charges of rape and two of sexual assault by penetration.
Prosecutor Adrian Higgins told the court police were alerted after the woman, who is in her 20s, claimed she had been raped by Sadikur.
He said a “red flag” toxicology report indicated an unidentified substance was present in her system.
The complainant said they met at a house the accused shared with others after sending messages on dating app Badoo. It was alleged they went to a bedroom where Sadikur pushed her down onto the bed.
Mr Higgins said: “She attempted to push them away, saying ‘What the f**k are you doing?’, but claimed they were too strong and she couldn’t move.” Police found Sadikur hiding in an outhouse behind the property the next day.
The accused, who was in the UK illegally, insisted she asked if he wanted sex, undressed herself and did not say ‘no’ at any stage. Defence counsel David Heraghty said Sadikur gave police his Badoo log-in so they could check all communication.
He added there were no injuries on the woman despite her claims of being tied up.
Mrs Justice Keegan refused Sadikur bail amid fears he could flee.