Former BGT singer accused of raping two women
Getty ImagesA former Britain's Got Talent contestant has gone on trial accused of raping two women.
Andrew Johnston, 30, competed as a singer on the TV programme in 2008 and faces charges of raping and sexually assaulting one woman and raping another.
The alleged offences happened a number of years after he appeared on the talent competition, Southwark Crown Court was told.
Mr Johnston, from Carlisle, denies the charges and the trial continues.
Maryam Syed KC, prosecuting, told the jury Mr Johnston had been "engaging in consensual sexual activity" with one complainant, but he removed his condom and the complainant "repeatedly told Mr Johnston to stop" but he did not.
'Hallmarks of similarity'
A video interview of one of the women was played to the jury and she said Mr Johnston held one hand on her throat and her arms were pinned with his other hand.
She said she "slammed on his chest with both hands" and he then stopped.
The woman said she then told him "when I say stop, you have to stop", and added that he said "sorry, I didn't hear you".
The other complainant told police she had engaged in consensual sex with the defendant and asked him to use a condom, the prosecution said.
The woman said she started to feel the defendant's hands around her neck and "no matter how many times she removed them, she said the defendant kept on putting his hands back around her throat", Ms Syed told the court.
He then stopped and removed the condom, then carried on with the intercourse, and she "indicated that he once again put his hands around her throat".
Ms Syed said: "The issue in this trial will be that in respect of the allegations whether there was non-consensual sexual activity and whether there was sexual activity at all in respect of the sexual assault.
"The prosecution say that these two young women have given truthful accounts of what occurred with this defendant, Andrew Johnston, when they were alone with him, which have striking hallmarks of similarity."
She said the similarity was "not because there have been heads put together" but "because of the nature of the way in which this defendant sexually abused both of them".
Mr Johnston was arrested and interviewed by police and gave a prepared statement, then answered no comment to further questions, Ms Syed said.
The trial continues.