Jury hears evidence of dead alleged rape victim in Lewes trial
A 999 call from a woman who a man allegedly posing as an "unofficial Uber" driver attempted to rape has been played in court.Graham Head, of Pevensey in East Sussex, is alleged to have had latex gloves, condoms, Viagra tablets and a balaclava in his silver Mercedes when he was arrested in November 2022.The 68-year-old is accused of kidnapping, sexually assaulting and attempting to rape a 25-year-old woman after picking her up in Brighton city centre. The woman died in December 2024.He denies the charges, stating that he offered the woman a lift home but did not touch her, jurors at Lewes Crown Court were told.
'I'm really confused'
The court heard that in a 999 call made by the woman, she told the operator: "A man put me to sleep. I don't know what he did. I woke up. He had gloves on. I need some help. This man is clearly doing this to people."I'm confused, I'm really confused."He was pulling my trousers down and then I kicked him and he's driven off."He had a mask on and he had plastic gloves on his hands. He said he was an Uber, he said he was going to drive me home. I didn't order one and I was reluctant."The woman remembered part of a number plate and Mr Head was arrested minutes later after a police pursuit through Hove, the court was told.According to the prosecution, in a police interview, the woman said Mr Head told her he was finishing his shift and would drive her home."I tried to sit in the front and he said I couldn't. I closed the window and fell asleep. I was fading in and out of consciousness and becoming aware I had been in the car for a really long time," she said."He kept stopping the car and was groping me. He got into the back and he had these rubber gloves. I was so out of it, I thought maybe this guy is going to chop me into pieces."Mr Head is also accused of assaulting 19-year-old woman he picked up near Hove Park, which he denies.The trial continues.
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