Man accused of raping teen at Latitude Festival

The jury at the trial of a man accused of raping a teenager at a music festival have retired to consider their verdict.

Alex Stokes, 32, of Burns Road, Wellingborough, denies raping or engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl and engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity and the sexual assault of another 15-year-old girl.

Ipswich Crown Court heard that Mr Stokes had been working as a steward at the Latitude Festival in Suffolk in 2022.

His defence barrister argued that whilst the defendant did have consensual sex with one of the girls, he did not believe she was 15.

While summing up the evidence heard across the trial, Judge Nicola Talbot-Hadley said that one of the girls, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she and a friend had been at the festival in July 2022 where they started speaking to Mr Stokes.

The teenager said they believed Mr Stokes was a security guard.

The girl said they had been drinking alcohol and told the defendant they were both 15, she said he provided them with more drinks.

She said after kissing Mr Stokes he then asked her to sit on him and he penetrated her, she said it was in a public place and he told her not to get up or security would see and she would be kicked out of the festival.

The court heard that whilst this was happening Mr Stokes had asked the girl to bring her friend closer, he is then alleged to have sexually assaulted the other teenager.

Mr Stokes denied that incident happened with the second girl and said the girls asked him to guess their ages and he said 18 and 19. He said he was not corrected by them and was not told they were 15.

He was arrested on 27 July 2022 and admits initially lying in his first police interview by saying he had not had sex with one of the girls, he said he lied because he was "scared".

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