Group of lads 'laughed and cheered as woman was being raped in Hartlepool alley', court told

Paul Rowntree, 25, is standing trial at Teesside Crown Court accused of raping the woman in an alley way in Hartlepool town centre in the early hours.

The jury heard claims the woman was pleading with her alleged attacker to stop but the men just walked past and shouted ‘go on’.

In her account to police which was played to the jury on Monday, November 16, the woman, who cannot be identified, said: "A group of men went past.

"I was asking for him (Rowntree) to stop and leave me alone and the lads walked past and they were all cheering.”

She added: “They must have heard because it wasn’t under my breath and they just carried on walking.

“I remember thinking ‘just one of them stop’. It’s not normal having sex in the middle of where people are walking past.”

The alleged victim told police that she had met Rowntree earlier that night and he seemed nice.

She said they kissed but when in the alley he is alleged to have tried to put his hands inside her jeans and forced his fingers into her mouth causing her to gag.

He is then alleged to have forced her onto the floor and raped her.

She said: “I said ‘you’re hurting me stop please stop’.

“I just couldn’t get him off me.”

The woman said eventually a young man, Keenan Robson, did go to her aid after hearing her crying and challenged Rowntree.

“All of a sudden I heard a voice saying ‘get off her now’,” she said.

A female friend of Mr Robson’s also went to her aid and is said to have shouted at Rowntree to get away from the woman.

The alleged victim said: “I don’t even know where they come from but I’m so glad they did.”

Rowntree, of no fixed address, was arrested the next day and told police he had asked if he could have sex with her and she agreed.

He denied she was upset or crying on the floor when he left.

The trial continues.

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