A JURY has retired to consider its verdict in a rape trial involving a Runcorn soldier.
Jason Holmes, 21, of Lockgate East, Windmill Hill, Runcorn is charged with two counts of rape and sexual assault on a 19-year-old woman in Warrington on Christmas Eve.
The Royal Engineer took to the stand at Chester Crown Court yesterday and denied the allegations, saying that he did have sex with the alleged victim but that their encounter had been fully consensual.
He recalled how he and his friends had been enjoying drinks with two girls they had met that night.
Holmes told the court he had been kissing the complainant at the Showbar nightclub despite having a girlfriend at the time, whose brother was out with him that night.
CCTV footage shown to the jury showed Holmes and the woman leaving the at around 3.30am, before leading her to a car park on Cairo Street, where the alleged incident took place.
Holmes told the court that the pair had mutually decided to leave the venue and go somewhere quiet so that his friend did not catch him cheating on his sister.
He claims that the alleged victim made up the allegations of rape after suffering an injury during their encounter that resulted in her losing 600ml of blood.
He said: “I did not do a single thing against her will that night. If she had showed any sign of discomfort I would not have carried on.”
During a character witness given by The defendant's commander, Captain Catherine Coward, told the court Holmes had an exemplary military record. Since joining the army as a 17-year-old and he saved the life of a fellow soldier who had been shot in the neck during a seven month deployment in Afghanistan back in 2010.
He is due to return to Afghanistan next week and she said she would have no hesitation in taking him if he is cleared.
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