'A SPITEFUL evil cow' is alleged rapist Stephen Barratt's view of one of his accusers, a jury heard today.Barratt, 33, is accused of two counts of rape, and five indecent assaults against three girls.
'A SPITEFUL evil cow' is alleged rapist Stephen Barratt's view of one of his accusers, a jury heard today.
Barratt, 33, is accused of two counts of rape, and five indecent assaults against three girls. He was today called as a witness by the defence team in his trial at Ipswich Crown Court.
In his evidence the resident of Clapgate Lane, Ipswich denied all the charges against him.
Referring to the two counts of rape against a 16-year-old girl, Barratt said her "nose seemed to be put out of joint" by a relationship he was having with a 33-year-old woman.
He had told the court that on one occasion the girl had shouted abuse at him and his girlfriend as they stood outside their house.
Barratt said the 16-year-old said: "You think you have got it all fantastic with him, but we have slept together."
When asked why the girl would have made this comment, Barratt said in a police statement "because she is a spiteful, evil cow."
Barratt, who worked as a doorman at Kartouche in Ipswich, also said that the girl had "swung at him" while he was working at the nightclub.
The painter and decorator by trade, is also accused of indecently assaulting a 15-year-old girl.
In his evidence he admitted squeezing the knee of the girl but said it was in 'a playful way.'
He said he could have been responsible for a mark that appeared on her neck, but said it had been the result of playful wrestling in which someone else had also been involved.
Barratt, who has two previous marriages, is also accused of indecently assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
He told the court that he had been in the car with the girl on two separate occasions but said no sexual contact had taken place.
He said that on one occasion he stopped at a cemetery in Melton to visit the grave of a "very good friend" while he was with the girl.
The jury earlier heard from DC Steven Corbett who is the leading officer in the case. He went through police interviews carried out with Barratt.
The defence is expected to conclude its case tomorrow when the jury are expected to retire.
The trial continues.
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