Belfast man accused of drugging, raping, and assaulting woman at his home

Sunday World

6 days ago

Anthony West's defence lawyer told the court the 38-year-old 'strenuously denies' the offences
A Belfast man appeared in court today accused of drugging, raping and assaulting a woman who he allegedly held against her will.
Appearing in the dock of the city's Magistrates Court, 38-year-old Anthony West confirmed he understood the six charges against him, alleged to have been committed against a single victim between 24 - 27 July the year.
West, from Henderson Avenue in the north of the city, faces charges of rape, non-fatal strangulation, false imprisonment, criminal damage, causing actual bodily harm and administering a noxious substance 'with the intention of stupefying or overpowering her so as to enable a person to engage in sexual activity involving her.'
Giving evidence to the court, a detective said he believed he could connect West to each of the offences, adding that police were objecting to bail due to concerns of further offending and witness interference.
He told the court it was after 10pm on Sunday when the complainant rang police to report that 'she had been held against her will for four days by the defendant.'
Anthony West
News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, July 29
She further reported that during that time, 'she had been drugged and beaten and raped.'
According to the alleged victim, she had initially gone to West's flat willingly on 22 July and during the first couple of days, the pair had had been drinking together.
The court heard however that by the third day, West allegedly 'started to verbally abuse her, he hid her phone and he assaulted her.'
When West had gone to the bathroom the woman tried to escape, but West 'grabbed her by the ankles, dragged her back and threw her on the bed' where he allegedly 'hit her several times,' said the officer.
On Saturday, 'she tried to get away and the defendant grabbed her again, dragged her back and coerced her into smoking what she believed was crack cocaine,' he told the court.
A short time later, West apparently told her 'I just want to f*** you' and while she acquiesced to having sex, the detective told the court that was in circumstances where 'it was only to appease him and because of the drugs she had taken.'
At one point during her ordeal, West allegedly 'grabbed her by the windpipe,' ripped her clothing, 'demanded that she remain naked,' demanded that she perform a sex act on him and flushed her phone down the toilet.
After that, 'she managed to leave the property' and alert the police.
When West was arrested, he initially claimed that 'she had struck him and held a knife to his throat' but during formal police interviews, he gave 'no comment' responses to officers' questions.
West's defence lawyer told the court the 38-year-old 'strenuously denies' the offences and submitted that he could be granted bail, subject to conditions.
District Judge Steven Keown disagreed however, and refusing bail, he remanded West into custody with the case adjourned to 6 August.