I can’t recall party woman, sex attack accused tells jury
APRIEST accused of indecently assaulting a student at a party says he has no recollection of ever meeting her, a court heard.
Former Cardiff University chaplain and priest Paul Overend is accused of kissing the woman at a gathering at his home in 1997.
The 54-year-old denies the accusation and his trial at Newport Crown Court started on Tuesday.
Yesterday, Overend took to the witness box to give evidence. Simon Kitchen, defending, asked Overend: “Did you ever indecently assault [the alleged victim]?” Overend said: “I did not.”
Mr Kitchen added: “Do you have any recollection of her whatsoever?” Overend replied: “No.”
The incident is alleged to have happened in 1997 at the chaplaincy in Park Place in Cardiff, where he lived at the time.
The court heard that Overend was previously married and divorced before he took holy orders in 1993. During his time as chaplain at Cardiff University Overend told the court he had four relationships with students from the university and then a member of staff, who he later married.
In 2017 Overend said he took up his “dream job” as chancellor at Lincoln Cathedral but added he was “pulled immediately” from the post in April 2019 after the allegations were made.
Overend told the jury that he and his wife lived in cathedral accommodation and after April 2019 they were forced to live elsewhere.
A friend of the alleged victim also gave evidence at the trial yesterday. She told the court she recalled the alleged victim telling her about the incident, stating that Overend kissed her upper arms and chest, leaving her feeling “trapped” and uncomfortable”.
Harry Baker, prosecuting, asked Overend if he tried to come across as the “cool vicar” during his chaplaincy, adding that his then-pierced ear and red jumper caused some discussion among students.
Overend, who has no previous convictions, denied acting inappropriately with female students and said he wanted to be less imposing during his chaplaincy.
Mr Baker said in his closing speech to the jury: “Both the victim and the defendant can’t be telling the truth.
“If she is telling the truth then he [Overend] is either lying or he can’t remember.
“He said that is not the case so I suggest that he is lying.”
In his closing speech Mr Kitchen said the alleged victim’s accusations “snowballed” and she “convinced herself” of what happened.
He added that the alleged victim “joined in with the slagging off of him that was taking place at the time” with her accusations.
On the first day of the trial, the alleged victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, gave evidence in court from behind a screen to protect her identity.
She told the jury that around 20 to 30 people were at the party where she had consumed some white wine.
At one point she went into the kitchen to get a drink when Overend appeared “seconds later”.
She said: “The next thing I know he was there stood in front of me. He just took hold of me.”
Overend is then accused of kissing the woman on her bare arms and across her chest before whispering in her ear: “Come upstairs, come upstairs with me my darling.”
Overend, of Vicars Court, Lincoln, has pleaded not guilty to one count of indecent assault.
The trial continues.