Rape case suspect says woman used his shower

A MAN accused of raping a teenager on a night out in Cardiff told police he took her back to his flat so she could shower, a court heard.

Mohamed Amin, 39, who is on trial at Cardiff Crown Court, denies raping the 18-year-old woman he met outside Pryzm nightclub in the city centre.

Asked in his police interview if there had been any sexual contact between them, he replied: “No.”

Prosecutors allege the incident occurred in the early hours of January 3, 2015, at the defendant’s then address at Darran Street in Cathays.

In his first police interview on January 26 that year, the interviewing officer said: “You have been arrested on suspicion of the offence of rape... Are you responsible for that offence?” Amin replied: “No.” He said he found the complainant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, crying on the pavement outside Pryzm and tried to help her find her phone.

The defendant stated she was dirty because she had been trying to retrieve her phone from a drain and said she wanted to wash, so he offered to let her use his shower.

Amin told the police they got a taxi to his home in Cathays and she used his shower. She then accused him of stealing her phone and money, and he called her a taxi to her hotel.

He added: “She left. That is exactly what happened.”

Asked if DNA tests would show there had been any sexual contact, he said they would not.

Questioned about why she made the allegations, he said she had probably had sex with someone else, adding: “I did not touch her.”

The jury was shown a compilation of CCTV from outside the nightclub.

The alleged victim was seen sliding down a lamppost outside Pryzm at 11.28pm. Amin was seen to approach her at 11.34pm and crouch down next to her. While they were sitting on the floor they were approached by a police officer and two street pastors.

The complainant was caught on a different camera at 12.08am trying to get into a taxi, where she was joined by the defendant. He put his coat around her shoulders at 12.10am, then they walked towards parked taxis and went out of camera shot.

The jury were given a map of key locations in the case, including the Premier Inn in Churchill Way, where the woman was staying with a friend.

They were played a recording of the complainant booking a taxi from the Flora pub back to the Premier Inn.

Prosecutors also played a recording of the 999 call she made to the police at 2.22am saying: “I would like to report a crime.”

She told the call handler she had lost her phone and money and he told her that was not a crime.

Then she said: “I have been raped by someone.” She gave her details and officers were sent to the Premier Inn.

Amin, of no fixed address, denies rape.

The trial continues.