Prostitute fled naked to street after sex attack by father of four, court told

A DUBLIN father of four has been accused of carrying out two violent sex attacks on prostitutes working in the city.

The accused, a 31-year-old tradesman, is alleged to have imprisoned, stripped, beaten and sexually assaulted one woman, who escaped through a window and ran naked on to a main road, where she flagged down a taxi.

Dublin District Court heard he allegedly pulled clumps of hair out of a second prostitute’s head and raped her, as well as robbing both women.

Judge Bryan Smyth remanded him in custody with consent to bail.

Under bail conditions, he must not engage with any escort agencies or websites.

The man is charged with aggravated sexual assault, false imprisonment, robbery and assault causing harm to one woman at an apartment in north Dublin in June 2016.

He is charged with rape, assault and robbery of the sec- ond woman at a city centre flat on February 4 last year.

Detective Garda Anne Power said the accused’s replies to four of the charges were that they were “false”.

Det Sgt Liam Donoghue said it was alleged the first prostitute had consensual sex with the accused by arrangement.

Afterwards, a dispute arose as to her nationality, it was claimed.

‘Bitten’

As she got a phone call from another client, Det Sgt Donoghue said, she was attacked, her clothing was removed, she was bitten on her breast, hit a number of times and began to scream.

The accused climbed on top of her and slapped her on the face, the garda said.

The alleged victim opened the door and tried to run from the flat, but he dragged her back, picked her up and threw her inside, it was alleged.

He banged her head on the door, then demanded cash before pushing her up against a sink and sexually assaulting her, causing her “great pain”, it was alleged.

She was also allegedly punched in the back of the head.

The woman escaped out of a window and flagged a taxi down, it was claimed.

In the second incident, it was alleged the accused had consensual sex with a prostitute after she refused to do so without a condom.

When she objected to the condom being removed, it was alleged she was then raped, had two clumps of her hair pulled out of her head and had cash stolen.

Defence solicitor Cahir O’Higgins accepted the allegations were “serious and ugly”, but asked Judge Smyth to grant bail.

The accused’s family would support him and provide accommodation, Mr O’Higgins said.

Judge Smyth granted bail subject to an independent surety of €10,000, half of whichistobecash.